AUSSIE STAR BYPASSES GOLD CUP Connections today revealed they have abandoned plans to run leading Australian chaser Logician in this season`s Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup. The Tony Noonan-trained gelding was among the eight forfeits for chasing`s blue riband event on March 15th. The 10-year-old finished fourth behind Best Mate at Sandown on his debut over British fences on February 3rd and was a close third behind Bright November at Ascot last Saturday. Andrew Balding, who has been supervising the gelding`s preparation for Cheltenham, said: 'He`s fine, we just felt that it was asking a bit much for him to go for the Gold Cup. 'His target is the Cathcart Chase at Cheltenham and hopefully he will stay on and have a crack at something at Liverpool. 'He hadn`t proved himself a serious contender for the Gold Cup so we`ve lowered his sights.' The Willie Mullins-trained Alexander Banquet, second to Florida Pearl in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown last time, is the most notable absentee from the race having been ruled out for the season by injury. A total of 30 horses remain in the Gold Cup, while 15 have been left in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, including leading fancies Function Dream, Flagship Uberalles, Edredon Bleu and Tiutchev. Istabraq`s presence has not prevented 33 horses standing their ground for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle. Stage Affair, trained by Dermot Weld is among them and will wear blinkers for the first time in the big race. Weld said on Tuesday: 'Stage Affair wore blinkers and won a schooling hurdle at Fairyhouse today. 'I was very pleased with him and he goes to Cheltenham for the big race. He will wear blinkers in the Champion Hurdle and Ruby Walsh who rode him today will have the mount.' There were no major names absent from the other championship races at the Festival. Cheltenham`s managing director Edward Gillespie said: 'The nine championship races at the National Hunt Festival are developing into classic contests.'
