Stayers' Hurdle contender Sams Profile ruled out of festival with leg infection

Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle hopeful Sams Profile has been ruled out of a tilt at the Cheltenham Festival after picking up an infection in a hind leg.

Mouse Morris recently described this season's John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle hero as the toughest horse he has ever trained, having finished third to Monkfish at Fairyhouse while carrying a previously undiscovered rib fracture from a fall nine days earlier.

The Michael and John O'Flynn-owned seven-year-old was priced between 16-1 and 25-1 for festival glory but a trip to the Cotswolds is no longer on the agenda, with his Gold Cup and Grand National-winning trainer happy to let the dust settle over the coming days before estimating any return date.

Sams Profile: has finished second in two Grade 1s and won a Grade 2 on his last startCredit: Caroline Norris

"It's obviously disappointing but it could have happened in worse years when owners would have been travelling over," said Morris. "It's very different this year."

He added on Tuesday: "Hopefully he'll be okay. It's possible he banged his hind leg on a hurdle and picked up an infection. We'll know a lot more after he has a very minor procedure this morning."

Twice placed in Grade 1 company as a novice hurdler, Sams Profile missed 566 days prior to this season and reverted successfully to hurdles at Gowran Park in January, having tried chasing on his first two starts of the campaign.

Morris has already opted to keep exciting novice hurdler Gentlemansgame at home this spring, eager to allow the unexposed five-year-old more time to mature after his Dublin Racing Festival second.

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