SAM MISSES FESTIVAL
TRAINER Gordon Elliott has ruled Samcro out of the Cheltenham Festival.
“Samcro worked with some of our other Cheltenham horses at Navan and we decided afterwards that Cheltenham is going to come a bit too soon for him,” said Elliott.
“He won’t be travelling and we’ll look at the two-and-a-half-mile Grade One hurdle at Aintree and also the Punchestown festival for him.
“Looking further ahead, we are looking forward to when he goes chasing in the autumn.”
Samcro has failed to win in three attempts this season.
He was found to be suffering from a lung infection after disappointing in the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown on his most recent start in December.
Bookmakers reacted by trimming Paisley Park into a top-priced 7-4 for the Stayers’ Hurdle, with Faugheen at 9-2 and Supasundae 8-1.
Trainer Nick Gifford has decided to swerve the Cheltenham Festival with Glen Rocco. “He didn’t come back 100 per cent from Kempton, so Cheltenham is going to come too soon for him,” said Gifford.
“We’ve had him checked over, and he appears to be fine but Cheltenham will come too soon.
“Hopefully we might get him back for Aintree and the Topham.
“We’ll just tick away with him now. If we can get him to Aintree we will – if not we’ll put him away for the season.
“It’s all about trying to get him into the National next year, hopefully. We won’t take any risks with him this season.”
Fontwell and Southwell are the latest tracks to be hit as trainers have followed through on their threat of further boycott action against Arena Racing Company-owned racecourses.
Just 27 runners will contest six races at Fontwell today, while Southwell’s six events tomorrow have drawn just 20 contenders. Nico De Boinville, Aidan Coleman and Gavin Sheehan are among a handful of high-profile riders who will be in action at Fontwell.