Gift to take a break

Iris’s Gift will not run again this season after his below-par effort in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The nine-year-old grey, trained by Jonjo O’Neill, was pulled up by Tony McCoy before the 18th fence after being in the front rank in the early stages of the blue riband event, won by War Of Attrition.

“He lost two shoes in the race, ‘AP’ said the horse didn’t feel right so he pulled him up,” said owner Robert Lester.

“He’s going to have a holiday and come back in October ready for the new season.”