Kendor Dine to miss Cheltenham

Kendor Dine, sent off 8-1 co-favourite for the Pierse Hurdle in January, will not compete at the Cheltenham Festival after sustaining a season-ending injury.

The promising youngster made a bright impression winning at maiden event prior to finishing a respectable eighth behind Spring The Que in the valuable Leopardstown handicap.

After subsequently finishing a slightly disappointing sixth behind Orbit O'Gold at Punchestown, the gelding was given a short break to freshen up.

But with Cheltenham looming large, connections suffered a late blow as the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle entrant sustained an injury that will keep him out of action for some time.

"I gave Kendor Dine a break after his last run and sent him away," trainer Eoin Griffin told At The Races.

"Unfortunately, I got the bad news that he'd sustained an injury while he was turned out in the paddocks and he's going to be out for the rest of the season.

"We probably won't see him again now until September or October."