ALTIOR is OUT of the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival for the second year in a row.
Trainer Nicky Henderson reported the news early on Monday morning.
The Seven Barrows maestro revealed his four-time Festival winner was coughing and could not be risked.
He said: "We are very sorry that we have taken the difficult decision not to run Altior in the Champion Chase on Wednesday.
"He coughed after exercise this morning which caused us to scope him and as a result of what we have seen it would not be sensible to run him.
"This is devastating for all of us, and Pat and Christopher Pugh in particular, in that this is the second year running that we have had to pull him out at the last minute.
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"His work and schooling last week as good as we have ever seen and we couldn't have been happier with his whole preparation.
"Not surprisingly, this is a bitter blow to us all and we are sorry for everyone that he will not be there on Wednesday."
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Altior had been the second favourite at a general 7-1 behind the Willie Mullins-trained Chacun Pour Soi.
The Irish star has now shortened up to 4-6 with most bookies.
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