Ned Buntline ruled out for season

Noel Meade's leading Grand Annual fancy Ned Buntline will miss the Cheltenham Festival and the rest of the season.

Sent off 4-1 joint-favourite for the concluding handicap at the Festival last year, he ran a fine race to finish fourth to Next Sensation .

Ned Buntline was last seen on the Flat at Gowran Park in May and was being prepared for the big spring meetings as he likes good ground.

But owner J P McManus' racing manager Frank Berry said: "He's just had some niggly problems and they've proved enough.

"He won't make the spring festivals now so Noel has decided to take a pull and bring him back in the autumn."