Island blow for Beef team

Church Island, who was as low as 10-1 for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase, has been ruled out of Wednesday’s race by Michael Hourigan.

The seven-year-old scored at Cheltenham in November when beating Celtic Son and, after a couple of disappointing displays, bounced back to form with a bloodless success at Navan last month.

“He has pulled muscles in his hind quarters and I am very disappointed as I thought he had a great chance,” said Hourigan.

“It is a big blow for his owner Joe Craig, but we have been picked up to some extent by Beef Or Salmon, who jumped six fences this morning and went really well.”