Sharjah to miss Champion Hurdle after scratchings made for major festival races

Sharjah, who has finished second in the last two runnings of the Unibet Champion Hurdle, has been scratched from this year's race.

The nine-year-old has won both of his starts in Grade 1 company this season, including when racing to a historic fourth Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas. He had been as short as 6-1 to avenge his defeats to Epatante and Honeysuckle.

Willie Mullins could instead rely on Saint Roi, who was fourth in Sunday's Irish Champion Hurdle, and Appreciate It, who was an absentee from the same race but won last year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle over the same course and distance.

Why Paul Townend can't wait to take on Honeysuckle aboard Appreciate It

The 2020 Champion Hurdle winner Epatante, who shared the Fighting Fifth with Not So Sleepy before bounding to victory in the Christmas Hurdle, is the sole entry from Nicky Henderson's yard.

The former dual champion Buveur D'Air was taken out of both the Champion Hurdle and Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle. Similarly, Saturday's runaway Contenders Hurdle winner Goshen won't contest either of those races.

The novice My Mate Mozzie is still in contention for Gavin Cromwell, although he will need to do better than when a 53-length fourth to Sir Gerhard on Sunday.

Others to be removed from the Champion Hurdle include Song For Someone, Echoes In Rain, Aspire Tower, Abacadabras, Saint Felicien and Cask Mate.

No Gold Cup for Champ

Champ's Cheltenham Festival target has seemingly been determined as he has been taken out of the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, suggesting connections are favouring a tilt at the Stayers' Hurdle, for which he is a 9-2 chance with the race sponsors.

The 2020 RSA Chase winner won a fourth Grade 1 in December's Long Walk Hurdle and was last seen finishing second to Paisley Park in the Cleeve Hurdle. McFabulous, who finished fourth in that race, will not reoppose.

The four other horses to be taken out of the Gold Cup are Angels Breath, Carefully Selected, Eklat De Rire and Remastered.

Saturday's Irish Gold Cup winner Conflated still has the option of the Gold Cup and Ryanair Chase while last year's Kim Muir winner Mount Ida remains in the race as well as the Mares' Chase.

Full list of horses scratched from the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday

Champion Hurdle (3.30, March 15)

Abacadabras
Aspire Tower
Buveur D'Air
Cask Mate
Goshen
Saint Felicien
Sharjah
Song For Someone
Echoes In Rain

Mares’ Hurdle (4.10, March 15)

Skyace
Clondaw Caitlin
Mollys Glory

Champion Chase (3.30, March 16)

Allaho
Notebook
Rouge Vif
Samcro

Ryanair Chase (2.50, March 17)

Blackbow
Cilaos Emery
Defi du Seuil
Funambule Sivola
Fusil Raffles
Midnight Shadow
Rouge Vif
Samcro
Simply The Betts
Put The Kettle On

Stayers’ Hurdle (3.30, March 17)

Aspire Tower
Buveur D'Air
Goshen
McFabulous
Mr Adjudicator
Santini
My Sister Sarah

Cheltenham Gold Cup (3.30, March 18)

Angels Breath
Carefully Selected
Champ
Eklat de Rire
Remastered

Read these next:

How good is Honeysuckle? Where the mare ranks among the hurdling greats

Race of the Cheltenham Festival? Assessing the top Supreme contenders

Racing Post Live is your ultimate racing watchalong every Saturday and during major festivals. Our experts offer uninterrupted tips, analysis and reactions to the ITV action. Subscribe to the Racing Post YouTube channel here and never miss a minute