Roche runners miss races due to virus

Trainer Christy Roche withdrew all his runners from yesterday’s meeting at Leopardstown as his horses appear to have been hit by a virus.

Top hurdler Like-A-Butterfly was due to have her seasonal reappearance in the Grade One Evening Herald December Festival Hurdle but the mare was declared a non-runner.

Roche explained: “Like-A-Butterfly scoped wrong and there appears to be a virus in the yard.”

The handler also took Talking Tactics and The Who Shall out of the maiden hurdle while Measure Of The man and Kadiskar missed their runs in the paddypower.com Future Champions Novice Hurdle.

Shannon Gale also bypassed his intended run in the Paddy Power Handicap Chase while Lesssaidthebetter and The Boys In Green were also pulled out.