Elliott rules Don Poli out of Gold Cup with season-ending injury

The festival injury list added another big name yesterday when Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup hope Don Poli was ruled out of the race by trainer Gordon Elliott.

Don Poli's defection opens up the possibility that Gigginstown House Stud could be represented in the chasing showpiece by Outlander and Empire Of Dirt, who could be switched from the Ryanair Chase.

Elliott said: "Unfortunately, Don Poli has met with a setback and won't race again this season. We're very disappointed he won't be able to run in the Gold Cup, in which he finished third last year. He was in great form and we were looking forward to running him.

"We haven't discussed the Empire Of Dirt situation yet. There is only one Gold Cup but the owners are keen on the Ryanair for obvious reasons, so I'll wait and see what they want to do," Elliott said.

Don Poli, who was a general 16-1 shot for Friday's Gold Cup, is a two-time Cheltenham Festival winner having landed the Martin Pipe in 2014 and the RSA Chase a year later. He finished third in the Stan James Irish Gold Cup last month.

The Gold Cup has been plagued by absences, with long-time ante-post favourite Thistlecrack and 2015 winner Coneygree among those missing out, while last year's hero Don Cossack has retired through injury.

The Stan James Champion Hurdle on Tuesday will also be without its last two winners Faugheen and Annie Power.

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