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McManus has cracking Arkle alternative in Defi Du Seuil after Le Richebourg blow

Tom Collins on the latest developments along the road to the Cheltenham Festival

EXETER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 07: Defi Du Seuil ridden by Barry Geraghty jump the last on their way to winning the Heavitree Brewery PLC Novices Chase at Exeter Racecourse on December 7, 2018 in Exeter, England. (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)
Defi Du Seuil: rerouting him to the Arkle looks a live optionCredit: Harry Trump

Owner JP McManus and trainer Joseph O'Brien were dealt a huge blow this week when Arkle favourite Le Richebourg, one of the supposed Irish bankers of the Cheltenham Festival, was ruled out for the season due to injury.

The general 5-2 market leader had impressed this season with two victories at Grade 1 level at Leopardstown and looked the one to beat in the Arkle.

The bad news came just a week after main British challenger Dynamite Dollars was ruled out of the race for trainer Paul Nicholls and, with Le Richebourg out as well, the two-mile Grade 1 chase now looks wide open.

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