Amaretto Rose retired

Amaretto Rose, a possible contender for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, has been retired.

The seven-year-old, who won four of her seven starts, had suffered a string of problems since injuring her near-fore leg in last year´s Supreme Novices´ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Although Nicky Henderson had hoped to prepare the mare for another trip to Prestbury Park, he has admitted defeat after Amaretto Rose was pulled up on her reappearance at Wincanton.

He said: "She is very classy and has a terrific turn of foot.

"Due to recurring problems, which began at the Festival when she was struck into, and more recently included problems with an eye, it has become clear we´d not have her right for Cheltenham and it was therefore agreed to retire her," he told the Racing Post.