LIFE SET FOR SUNALLIANCE Life Is Life has been virtually ruled out of the Smurfit Champion Hurdle. The classy Flat stayer, a winner on her jumping debut at Ascot in November, is set to be aimed instead at the Royal & SunAlliance Novices` Hurdle at Cheltenham by trainer Michael Jarvis. She missed Saturday`s River Don Novices` Hurdle at Doncaster and has not run since a poor effort at Ascot in December. But owner Ray Anderson Green said: 'The ground was atrocious that day. She put in a bad one and Michael felt the ground at Doncaster would be too testing so we did not want risk her again and perhaps ruin her for the rest of the season. 'We would like to get another race into her before Cheltenham but where are we going to find decent ground? 'Fortunately, if we don`t find something she is easy to get ready and I think she will go for the Royal & SunAlliance Novices` Hurdle rather than the Champion. 'She would not have the experience over hurdles to run in that and we know she will stay in the `SunAlliance` from her second in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester and fifth in the Ascot Gold Cup.' The same owner`s dual Newcastle winner Dibea Times is also unlikely to take up his Champion Hurdle entry. Anderson Green said: 'The plan is to go for a conditions race at Kelso on Thursday. 'Then we would like to take him to Cheltenham. He is in the Champion Hurdle too but I don`t think that is his race - the Gerrard Supreme Novices` Hurdle would suit him much better.'
