Bard out of festival

Keltic Bard, a 16-1 chance with the sponsors for the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase, will miss the Cheltenham Festival after picking up an injury.

The Charlie Mann-trained nine-year-old has sustained a stress fracture to his near-fore cannon bone following his eyecatching third in the Sky Bet Chase at Southwell.

“It’s a serious blow because he’d done everything right at home after Southwell and we were looking forward to Cheltenham,” Mann told the Racing Post.

“I am not sure if he picked up the injury in his stable or on the gallops but he was lame when Noel (Fehily) rode him.

“He’ll need box rest for four weeks but the long-term prognosis is good and he should be back next winter.”