The Gordon Elliott-trained favourite for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, Cracking Smart, will miss the festival and the rest of the season because of an injury, the Racing Post report.
Cracking Smart has been in fine form this season, winning the Navan Novice Hurdle in December, after which he finished a close second to Next Destination in the Grade One Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle.
However, it has been confirmed recently by the owners of Cracking Smart that the Cheltenham Festival has come too soon and that he won’t be risked at the festival due to suffering a further setback in his recovery.
Unfortunately, Cracking Smart has met with a setback and won’t be running again this season.
Elliott had been preparing the six-year-old for the highly anticipated Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival next week.
Next Destination has now been named as favourite for the Albert Bartlett race, with the Nicky Henderson-trained Santini a close second favourite with the bookmakers.
