RACING:Jim Dreaper's Notre Pere has been ruled out of the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday week after suffering a "setback".
The Coral Welsh National winner chased home Neptune Collonges in the Irish Hennessy at Leopardstown last month and Dreaper is understandably disappointed his charge will not be able to have a crack at the blue riband next week.
"He's had a minor setback and he will not be running in the Gold Cup," said Dreaper. "He's going to have to miss work for this week and he will run as soon as he's ready."
As well as the Gold Cup, Dreaper is unsure whether his charge will take his chance in the Grand National at Aintree in April as he is not keen to let him run in the marathon event this season anyway.
"It came at absolutely the wrong time but he'll be back and we will just have to see about Aintree," the trainer continued.
"He's entered in the Grand National because obviously you have to be from the outset but none of us are actually very keen to do it this year.
"He'll tell us when he is right again and we will make a decision on where we go from there."
Ante-post favourite Binocular features among 24 six-day confirmations for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle on Tuesday.
Nicky Henderson’s five-year-old is unbeaten in two starts this season and is one of three contenders for the Seven Barrows handler along with Punjabi and Sentry Duty.
Celestial Halo could bid to secure a first Champion Hurdle success for champion trainer Paul Nicholls, while former champions Hardy Eustace, Brave Inca, Sublimity and Katchit are all on the list.
Noel Meade has Harchibald, Jered and Muirhead while River Liane, Sizing Europe and Won In The Dark are other interesting contenders from Ireland.
David Pipe’s due of Ashkazar and Osana are both possibles, as are Emma Lavelle’s Crack Away Jack, the Philip Hobbs-trained Snap Tie and Donald McCain’s mare Whiteoak.