STAGE RULED OUT Stage Affair was today ruled out of his intended reappearance at Down Royal on Saturday.Trainer Dermot Weld had been aiming last season`s Champion Hurdle fifth at the Killultagh Hurdle and had booked Richard Johnson for the ride. But he was forced to scrap plans after the horse developed a minor ailment. A spokesman for Weld`s stable said: 'Stage Affair has developed a head cold and it was decided not to run him.' The ground at Down Royal is officially yielding to soft on the hurdle track at present.
