Cowboy To Miss Festival

Published at

Rhinestone Cowboy has been ruled out of the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham next month by trainer Jonjo O'Neill.

The 10-year-old has not been seen since landing a Grade One event at Punchestown in April 2004, when he defeated his stablemate and the then stayers' hurdle champion Iris's Gift.

'We are losing the battle and he will not make Cheltenham,' said O'Neill.

'I will have to talk to the owners but he will probably be retired.'

Rhinestone Cowboy was 6-1 third favourite with the sponsors for the stayers' championship on March 16.

The Be My Native gelding won 10 of his 14 starts and amassed #300,000 in prize money.

? PA Sport

Latest Stories which may interest you

Ed Walker’s team poised for ‘exciting’ season to start

Ed Walker will be drawn to all corners of the world when the British Flat campaign officially kicks off on Saturday.

'There’s something cool about the notion of Ryan Moore arriving on the bridle on Constitution Hill'

Constitution Hill is taking on seven rivals at Kempton on Wednesday evening at 19:30 and William Hill has him as a 2-11 favourite for his second start on the Flat.

Conor Stone-Walsh describes his first Cheltenham win: 'It was silent for a few seconds and then the noise hits you'

Conor Stone-Walsh has been a name on the minds of owners, trainers and racegoers for the last couple of years. A talent on the Flat before switching codes, he has worked through partnerships with various trainers such as Ian Donoghue and Gavin Cromwell. He had his day in the sun at the Cheltenham Festival when riding his first winner at the meeting in the Cross Country Chase aboard Final Orders, the 7/1 shot.

Gosden: Dubai Turf title for Ombudsman would be plan well executed

John Gosden has explained that Ombudsman’s appearance in the Dubai Turf on Saturday is the culmination of a plan formulated with Sheikh Mohammed in October.