Setback rules Idaho Sun out of Cheltenham

Harry Fry’s leading Skybet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle contender Idaho Sun has been ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival with a setback.

The six-year-old, who was sixth in last year’s Champion Bumper, is unbeaten in three starts since turning his attentions to hurdling and was a 12-1 chance for the meeting’s curtain-raiser after landing Grade One honours at Aintree on Boxing Day.

However, he will now miss the race, with his absence a blow to the British challenge which is headed by Nicky Henderson’s big-race favourite Old Park Star.

In a post on his X account, Fry said: “Idaho Sun will unfortunately miss the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham next week due to a hind limb lameness that requires further diagnosis”