Rock On Ruby© Photo Healy Racing
Rock On Ruby is out of the Ladbrokes World Hurdle after "working poorly" at home on Saturday morning.
The former Champion Hurdle hero was due to step up in trip to three miles for the first time having won his previous two races over the intermediate distance of two and a half miles
However, he will not now get the chance with trainer Harry Fry stating on his website he still hopes to be able to run him at Aintree.
"I am sorry to say that Rock On Ruby will miss the Ladbrokes World Hurdle after working poorly at home this morning," said Fry.
"He was clearly not himself which is very disappointing for everyone involved with the horse.
"He scoped dirty afterwards and is now on a course of antibiotics.
"We had high hopes of Ruby at Cheltenham. We will now be doing all we can to get him right, freshen him up and prepare him for the race at Aintree in which he finished a close second to The New One a year ago.
"It could be a tight schedule, though it helps that there are four weeks this year between Cheltenham and Aintree."
