Hinterland out of Champion Chase

Hinterland has been ruled out of the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, with Paul Nicholls instead hoping for some consolation at Sandown in April.

The seven-year-old was among the outsiders for the Cheltenham Festival contest but was a Grade One winner as a novice and chased home stablemate Dodging Bullets in the Tingle Creek earlier in the year.

He was last seen when pulled up at Kempton in December and a Tuesday morning spin at the Esher circuit has resulted in a setback which precludes a Festival run.

The bet365 Celebration Chase at Sandown has now been earmarked as the back-up plan for Hinterland.

Nicholls said: "Hinterland bled at Kempton so he has been scratched from Cheltenham. He has been a nightmare to train.

"We will try to get him ready for Sandown in April."