Punchestown Champion Hurdle the target for Dan Skelton’s Ch’Tibello after missing the Cheltenham Festival

CONNECTIONS of Ch'Tibello will aim to put the disappointment of missing the Cheltenham Festival behind them in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle.

Dan Skelton was forced to rule the six-year-old out of last week's Champion Hurdle at the 11th hour due to an infection in his foot.

Part-owner Ian Marmion said: "He definitely won't go to Aintree as I couldn't see him staying two and a half miles, so he'll go to Punchestown.

"It was a real kick in the guts to miss last week. We all live in Ireland, we'd all got over and then Dan rang about 8am to tell us he couldn't run.

1

"Every time he'd rung in the week before I'd said I was worried it would be bad news and this time it was.

"He probably wouldn't have beaten the winner but he'd beaten My Tent Or Yours this season, though I know he's better at this time of year.

MOST READ

'ED OFF

Chamberlin 'wanted Match Of The Day job' after 'tearful' day at Cheltenham

TROLL CITY

'Absolute rubbish' - punters outraged as City Of Troy crowned Horse Of The Year

TEMPLEGATE'S TIPS

My NAP has been coming close in better races than this all season

FIVER FLUTTER

This longshot has winning form over this trip and track

"So we'll go to Punchestown a fresh horse and given Buveur D'Air doesn't look like he's going, something like Petit Mouchoir might be favourite unless Willie (Mullins) pulls something out of the woodwork.

"It's a £100,000 race, I know it's not the Champion Hurdle but it will still take some winning."

The last British-trained winner of the race was Nicky Henderson's Punjabi in 2008.