Triumph favourite Bellator out for season with leg injury

Bellator is out for the rest of the season due to a leg injury, writes Ian Davies.

The three-year-old was ante-post favourite for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham next March but his trainer Toby Balding said last night: "Bellator has suffered a stress fracture of the near-fore cannon bone. It is mendable but he is out for the season."

The trainer Mary Reveley could run two horses in The Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown on 11 January. Mrs Reveley has entered Express Gift, who was a leading fancy for last season's event before being withdrawn, unbeaten hurdler Penny A Day and the recent Ascot winner Executive Design. Penny A Day, 10-1 with the sponsors, and Executive Design, 16-1, are intended runners at this stage. The former, impressive at Wetherby on his reappearance, has 11st 2lb and Executive Design, successful at Ascot last month, has 10st 11lb.