Smart stayer Punchestowns has been ruled out of Thursday's Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle after suffering a setback.

Nicky Henderson's six-year-old had been as short as evens to go one place better than when chasing home Big Buck's at Cheltenham last month.

'He was not quite right behind when we trotted him up last night and, although it's not very serious, we cannot take any chances with him,' reports Henderson.

'It's very disappointing as this race had been the plan all year, and we have now lost him and Barbers Shop from our Punchestown team.'