'I'm absolutely gutted' - Langer Dan to miss Stayers' Hurdle after setback

Dual Cheltenham Festival winner Langer Dan is to miss Thursday's Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle with a respiratory infection.

Trainer Dan Skelton said the gelding had an unsatisfactory tracheal wash on Thursday morning and connections would instead target him at the William Hill Aintree Hurdle on April 3, in which he finished a close third last season.

The nine-year-old was a 9-1 chance for Thursday's highlight on the back of his exceptional record at the meeting. He had won the Coral Cup in the last two seasons and previously finished second to subsequent dual Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs in the Martin Pipe. It is the first time in six years that Langer Dan will not run at the Cheltenham Festival.

"Unfortunately it's not great news for Langer Dan this morning," said Skelton on X. "He had a slightly dirty nose and we've had the vet have a look at him. We did a tracheal wash and there's a bit of mucus and it was too much.

Langer Dan: festival stalwart ruled out of the Stayers'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"I've made him a non-runner which is very disappointing. He's been a horse who has turned up there every year since he was a four-year-old. I'm absolutely gutted for Colm [Donlon] who owns him. 

"We always trust him to come alive at this time of year. He will, however, go to Aintree with a bit of luck. It shouldn't take long to clear up, it's just bad timing. These things happen and I'm sure he'll be cheered on in the Aintree Hurdle, one of the great races of the meeting."

Soft in places was removed from the going description at Cheltenham on Thursday with day three of the festival set to start on good to soft ground.

It was a dry night in the Cotswolds, although temperatures dropped to as low as -2C overnight. Take-offs and landings were covered overnight as a precautionary measure.

Racing on Thursday switches to the New course for the first time and it is forecast to remain dry with highs of 7C.

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