Apache to miss Neptune

Apache Stronghold is one of 31 horses taken out of the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham on March 12.

The six-year-old was last seen beating Azorian in a Navan Grade Two in November, and trainer Noel Meade had stated previously that he had hoped his charged would still make the race.

Willie Mullins' Briar Hill and Moyle Park are among those removed from the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle reckoning, and their stablemate Suntiep is out of the RSA Chase.

Martin Brassil's Grand National candidate Double Seven has been scratched from the Terry Biddlecombe National Hunt Chase.