Royal Rosa has been ruled out of the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Royal Rosa and The French Furze have both been ruled out of the Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock this afternoon.

Crystal d’Ainay will wear a visor for only the second time over hurdles when he bids for back-to-back victories in the Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock tomorrow.

IRISH mare Asian Maze and Howard Johnson’s No Refuge head the 18 entries for the Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Francois Doumen has revealed former champion stayer Baracouda could be joined by stablemates Millenium Royal and Blue Canyon in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle on March 16.

Royal Rosa has been cut into 10-1 by Coral for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle ahead of his return to action at Cheltenham on January 28.

INGLIS DREVER became the latest high-profile casualty of the New Year when he was ruled out for the rest of the season with a tendon injury yesterday.

Inglis Drever became the latest high-profile casualty of the New Year when he was ruled out for the rest of the season with a tendon injury.

Inglis Drever will try to wrap up the Order Of Merit title with victory in the Grade One Scottish And Newcastle Aintree Hurdle tomorrow.

GOLD CUP hopeful Grey Abbey will be out to stir the emotions with another bold front-running display in the Pillar Property Chase at Cheltenham today.

Baracouda remains the 7-4 favourite with the sponsors for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Trainer Howard Johnson has been outlining plans for his battalion of stable stars.

The most valuable event of the Punchestown Festival, the Punchestown Heineken Gold Cup, takes place today.

IRIS’S GIFT confirmed his position as this season’s champion staying hurdler with an impressive win in the Martell Cognac Laurel Pub Company Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree yesterday.

Graham Lee, just beaten on Royal Rosa, went one better on Zibeline in the Martell Cognac Beefeater Restaurants Handicap Hurdle.

Graham Lee has recovered from a heavy fall at Sedgefield on Tuesday and will be fit to ride at Aintree tomorrow.

Trainer Howard Johnson has expressed some concern about the health of his string ahead of this week’s Martell Cognac Grand National meeting at Aintree.

MICHAEL HOURIGAN will wait and see how Beef Or Salmon goes over the next week or so before committing his stable star to the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday week.

ENGLISH 2000 Guineas winner Refuse To Bend is very much on track for Saturday’s Vodafone Derby at Epsom, as Mark Weld yesterday emphatically denied rumours regarding the horse’s recent homework.

GROUND BALL, one of the most frustrating horses in training, gets the nap to land the Quality Hotel Hurdle at Wexford tonight.

Nicky Henderson sent out the second British-trained winner of the Irish National Hunt Festival as Royal Rosa took the Paddy Power Champion INH Flat Race at Punchestown on Wednesday.