Trainer Philip Hobbs today ruled joint top-weight Phardante Flyer out of the #55,000 William Hill Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday.
However, the Minehead trainer will be represented by 1998 winner Polar Prospect and smart novice Reiziger.
Hobbs said: 'Phardante Flyer will not run as the ground will be far too soft for him.
'Polar Prospect will handle the ground and Reiziger has won on very soft in France and on soft here so we`ll wait and see.'
Richard Johnson will ride Reiziger with Glenn Tormey aboard Polar Prospect.
Seebald, trained by Martin Pipe, shares 12st with Phardante Flyer.
However, the hurdle races at Sandown on Saturday are the subject of an inspection at 7.30am tomorrow with prospects described as 'extremely gloomy'.
On the betting front the Pipe-trained Murray River is now Ladbrokes` 4-1 favourite (from 5-1) for the contest, displacing stablemate Valiramix (9-2).
Ladbrokes bet: 4-1 Murray River, 9-2 Valiramix, 5-1 Hulysse Royal, 8-1 Reiziger, 10-1 Masalarian, Zabari, 11-1 Stormy Skye, 12-1 Miss Emer, Haditovski, 14-1 bar.
William Hill: 7-2 Murray River, 9-2 Hulysse Royal, 6-1 Valiramix, 8-1 Reiziger, 12-1 Haditovski, Masalarian, Zabari, Stormy Skye, 14-1 bar.
