Neptune Novices' Hurdle fancy Finian's Oscar has been ruled out of Cheltenham after suffering a bruised foot.
Trainer Colin Tizzard has been forced to withdraw Finian's Oscar from the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle but the yard are confident the five-year-old will be fit for Aintree in April.
Finian's Oscar, unbeaten in his three hurdles starts this term, including the Grade One Tolworth at Sandown in January, was fancied by many for success in the Neptune and favourite with some bookies.
But Colin's son Joe confirmed he will play no part at Cheltenham next week, he said: "Unfortunately Finian's Oscar is going to miss next week. He's got a bruised foot. It's annoying but he's a young horse and we hope he'll be fine for Aintree.
"It's just come at the wrong time for Cheltenham, any earlier and he'd have been all right. He's a young horse with a gorgeous future," added Joe Tizzard to the Racing Post.
The announcement means it is likely Neon's Wolf, who has been popular in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle market, will go for the Neptune and is currently the clear favourite with the bookmakers. But trainer Harry Fry is still yet to decide on a particular race and was giving nothing away on ITV Racing on Saturday.
The withdrawal of Finian's Oscar has also opened the door for Let's Dance in the Neptune. The five-year-old has been taken out of the Albert Bartlett with trainer Willie Mullins preferring other Cheltenham options and the Neptune could well be a viable option.
This year's Cheltenham Festival has so far seen a number of high profile horses withdraw and with just three days to go until the curtain raiser on Tuesday there appears to be no let up. Ryanair Chase hopeful Zabana was also ruled out on Saturday by trainer Andy Lynch.
