Cheltenham Festival blow for Le Richebourg - (2026)

Le Richebourg has been ruled out of the Arkle Trophy at next month’s Cheltenham Festival after suffering a season-ending injury.

The JP McManus-owned six-year-old had been considered as many people’s favourite for the Grade One race after winning four of his five starts over fences this season, an impressive run that included successive Grade One victories at Leopardstown in the Racing Post Novice Chase and the Irish Arkle.

However, trainer Joseph O’Brien has now revealed the brown gelding won’t be making the trip to Prestbury Park after an unspecified injury was discovered during a routine workout on Saturday.

The David Staddon-trained Lalor is the 3/1 favourite with Betfred to win Arkle, with Glen Forsa and Defi Du Seuil both priced at 4/1.

Le Richebourg was not the only horse to suffer injury heartache on Monday, as the Nickey Henderson-trained Fusil Raffles looks highly unlikely to run in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, a race he was highly-fancied to win.

The Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned horse suffered a nasty cut to his leg en route to winning the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton on Saturday, with Henderson confirming that there is next to no chance that he will now head to the Festival.

Henderson was quoted as saying by the Racing Post: “Sadly we have had to make a decision where Fusil Raffles is concerned and I’m afraid it’s bad news and highly unlikely he’ll make Cheltenham and therefore not get the opportunity to take his chance in the JCB Triumph Hurdle.

“Our team of vets have assessed the situation and we all agree he’ll need at least ten days’ box rest, which gives us no time to get him right in two weeks.”

Odds subject to change.