Gordon Elliott’s Minella Crooner, the ante-post favourite for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, will miss the race due to a pulled muscle.
A recent Grade One runner-up at Leopardstown over two miles and six furlongs, the David Barnard-owned six-year-old had won three of his five races under Rules and finished runner-up in the other two.
However, Elliott described the setback as “frustrating” but “nothing serious” and hopes to have him back in time for the remaining spring festivals.
