A setback has forced Lady Rebecca to miss this afternoon's Cheltenham Mares' Only Handicap Hurdle.
"Unfortunately she's a bit lame behind - hopefully nothing serious," explained trainer Venetia Williams.
"It's disappointing particularly for the owners. We were looking forward to her running after she worked well earlier in the week.
"We are hoping to get her right for Punchestown."
Because of Lady Rebecca's high rating (160) she was due to shoulder 12st in the Cheltenham handicap with all the remaining runners on the 10st mark.
Miss Williams added: "It's unfortunate the timing is wrong and the weights can't be raised."
The Ross-On-Wye trainer reports The Outback Way in good order following his gallant third place in the valuable Nakayama Grand Jump in Japan last Saturday, for which the gelding earned over £100,000 in prize money.
"He has arrived back in great form," Miss Williams said. "He ran a fantastic race. He jumped well, travelled well and he did everything exceptionally well."
