River out of Queen Mother Chase

Paul Nolan’s Cloone River has lost his race to be fit for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

The 10-year-old, a Grade One winner over hurdles and the winner of his two chase starts to date, had been put up as a lively outsider for the two-mile championship.

However, Nolan’s charge has been beset by injury problems since falling over hurdles at Galway in July and his trainer has now conceded defeat in his bid to get the gelding back on track for the Festival.

“We were just beaten for time and it would have been a stupid waste of money to leave him in any longer,” said Nolan.

“We are now hopefully going to concentrate on the Fairyhouse and Punchestown Festivals – that’s what we are hoping for now at this stage.

“He’s had no further setbacks but in a race like that, if you are not going to be 100% it is a waste of time taking them over.

“For a race like that you need a run first and we have run out of time, he’s not had a setback but he won’t be going to Cheltenham.”