UNACCOMPANIED TO SKIP FESTIVAL SAYS MEADE

UNACCOMPANIED was on Sunday ruled out of the Stan James Champion Hurdle, for which she was as short as 16-1, with a view to bringing her back on the Flat later in the year.

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Owned and bred by Moyglare Stud, the five-year-old disappointed last week when beaten into a remote fourth by Hurricane Fly in the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle last month.

Weld said: “I told her owners she won’t be going to Cheltenham next month. She is fine and Davy [Russell] really looked after her when her chance was gone the last day and the plan now is to bring her back on the Flat at stakes level with the Alleged Stakes - a race she won last year - a strong possibility.

"We’ll also look at running her at the Punchestown festival but she won’t be running in the Champion Hurdle.”

The four-time winner over hurdles, successful in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown late last year, has also won three races on the Flat including the Listed Alleged Stakes at the Curragh last April.

Pique Sous could be the horse to take Unaccompanied's spot on the ferry over for Cheltenham after he was a four-length winner of the bumper at Leopardstown on Sunday.

The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old was installed as 10-1 second favouritefor the Weatherbys Champion Bumper by William Hill.