---
title: "On The Blind Side out of Cheltenham Festival"
canonical: "https://readhorseracing.com/2018/03/11/blind-side-cheltenham-festival/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "News"
published: "2018-03-11T10:57:08Z"
modified: "2018-03-11T10:57:08Z"
---

# On The Blind Side out of Cheltenham Festival

On The Blind Side has joined the list of horses who will not be competing at the Cheltenham Festival, [as he suffered another setback in his recovery](https://www.skysports.com/racing/news/12426/11284779/on-the-blind-side-out-of-cheltenham-festival).

The unbeaten hurdler, owned by Alan Spence, was set to take part in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle and was fancied by many to give red hot favourite Samcro a run for his money, but he has suffered a setback.

On The Blind Side has impressed in the past 12 months after winning a maiden hurdle at Aintree on his debut in October and backed up that performance with successive Grade 2 victories, the latest coming at Sandown in impressive fashion.

![Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readhorseracing.com/readhorseracing/2018/03/888335614.jpg)

However, Nicky Henderson revealed he had a slight muscle issue and will stay at home instead of competing at Cheltenham.

> On The Blind Side is going to stay at home. I can’t take a chance with him and I’ll see if we can get him back to Aintree. He’s sore behind. It’s very frustrating. He’d have had a genuine chance.

Henderson hoped that On The Blind Side will be ready for Aintree and believes he’s got a huge future ahead of him.