Hunters Call ruled out of Randox Health County Hurdle at Cheltenham

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Hunters Call was 8-1 joint-favourite for the County Hurdle on Friday, March 16
The eight-year-old made a successful debut for trainer Olly Murphy in December
'Hunters Call has some heat in his foot today,' Murphy told his Betfair blog

Published: 10:55 EST, 7 March 2018 | Updated: 10:57 EST, 7 March 2018

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Hunters Call has been ruled out of the Randox Health County Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival on Friday week after suffering a setback.

Formerly trained in Ireland, the eight-year-old made a successful debut for fledgling trainer Olly Murphy when he won the lucrative Racing Welfare Handicap Hurdle at Ascot in December.

He was the 8-1 joint-favourite for the County Hurdle alongside the Willie Mullins-trained Max Dynamite.

Hunters Call has been ruled out of the Randox Health County Hurdle at Cheltenham next week

But Murphy told his Betfair blog: 'Unfortunately Hunters Call has some heat in his foot today and as far as Cheltenham is concerned we have lost the race against time.

'We will now aim him at the Scottish Champion Hurdle or one of the main Irish festivals in Fairyhouse or Punchestown.

'It's a blow for us here as he was in great form and we were looking forward to him running in County Hurdle.'