Le Richebourg and Band Of Outlaws set to miss Cheltenham Festival after setbacks

Two of Joseph O'Brien's most talented jumps stars are set to miss the Cheltenham Festival as Le Richebourg and Band Of Outlaws have met with setbacks.

Le Richebourg was a hot favourite for last year's Racing Post Arkle having won four of his five starts over fences but missed the race after picking up an injury in February, and O'Brien says he will not be making the trip to Cheltenham this year either.

"Unfortunately, Le Richebourg has had another setback," O'Brien said on Tuesday. "The plan was to run on New Year’s Day at Tramore but he just tweaked himself a few days beforehand and that ruled him out of running there and will rule him out of Cheltenham too."

The trainer added: "It's frustrating obviously but what can you do? These things happen in racing. We will do the right thing by the horse and give him time. He might still make it back in time for Aintree."

Band Of Outlaws gave trainer Joseph O'Brien a festival successCredit: Grossick Racing

Last year’s impressive Fred Winter winner Band Of Outlaws will also be absent from the festival.

Considered by some a dark horse for the Unibet Champion Hurdle, for which he was a 25-1 shot with Ladbrokes and BetVictor, Band Of Outlaws has not been seen since finishing third to Tudor City in the Galway Hurdle on the first day of August last year.

"Band Of Outlaws had a setback and missed a bit of time so Cheltenham will come too soon for him. Hopefully we will get him back for some of the other spring festivals but that would be a maybe rather than a definitely," O'Brien said.

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