Roche rules out Hyde

Trainer Christy Roche has ruled No Where To Hyde out of the totesport Trophy at Newbury as he feels the horse has been harshly treated by the handicapper.

The JP McManus-owned gelding had been installed favourite at around 8-1 with some bookmakers following yesterday’s publication of the weights after he had run a fine race to finish second in the Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown last Sunday.

“We had planned on going and I don’t want to overreact but I feel we are not welcome,” said Roche.

“I’m sorry if people have backed the horse, and they were entitled to, because we said we were going and Tony McCoy had told me to send him as the race and everything would suit him.

“But circumstances don’t let us go and everybody knows what they are. We’re not travelling to England.

“We’ve got to go back to the drawing board and see what we can find in Ireland now.”

No Where To Hyde was given 9st 10lb in the £125,000 handicap hurdle at Newbury on February 11, a mark of 132 compared to a rating of 119 which he ran off when beaten two and a half lengths by Studmaster in the Pierse.

However, Roche reported the six-year-old had come out of Sunday’s race in fine form.

“He has come out of the race really well. We were delighted with him,” added the Kildare trainer.