Cheltenham Festival 2018 – Gavin Cromwell’s Espoir D’Allen to skip Cheltenham

FANCIED runner Espoir D'Allen will not run at the Cheltenham Festival after being taken out of both the Supreme and Triumph Hurdle.

Gavin Cromwell has scratched the four-year-old from both races and feels his hurdler needs more time to recover.

Espoir D'Allen won his first four starts over hurdles but was well-beaten in the Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle when last seen.

"He'll be fine. He raced very keen the last day and he bottomed himself out and was a bit quiet for a while," said Cromwell.

"Cheltenham is going to come too soon and he's been busy all season. Please god he'll make one of the other spring festivals later on."

Owner JP McManus still has the ante-post favourite for the Triumph in the shape of Apple's Shakira, trained by Nicky Henderson.

Cromwell is still hoping to run the McManus-owned Jer's Girl at Cheltenham following a short break.

"She's in the mares, she's in the Stayers' Hurdle and she'll probably have an entry in the Coral Cup," said the Navan-based trainer.

"I don't know at this stage which race we'll go for. I'll have a chat with Frank (Berry, owner's racing manager). She's in great order. I'm happy with her."