Montelado out of Champion

The ranks of genuine Champion Hurdle contenders were further depleted yesterday when Montelado was ruled out of next month's contest by Pat Flynn.

The Waterford trainer finally admitted defeat in his attempts to patch up the talented though injury-prone nine-year-old. Montelado has raced only twice over hurdles in the past two years but had earlier been twice successful at the Cheltenham Festival and still holds the record for the minimum trip there.

"He could be out of action for a year," Flynn said. "Sadly we have had to give up on Cheltenham for 1996."

Flynn will not now be represented at the Festival, his other Champion Hurdle entry Aries Girl now being aimed at a Flat campaign because of injury problems.