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Hunters Call has been ruled out of the Randox Health County Hurdle at Cheltenham on Friday week after suffering a setback.

Formerly trained in Ireland, the eight-year-old made a successful debut for fledgling trainer Olly Murphy when he won the lucrative Racing Welfare Handicap Hurdle at Ascot in December.

He was the 8-1 joint-favourite for the County Hurdle alongside the Willie Mullins-trained Max Dynamite, but Murphy told his Betfair blog: " Unfortunately Hunters Call has some heat in his foot today and as far as Cheltenham is concerned we have lost the race against time."

He added: "We will now aim him at the Scottish Champion Hurdle or one of the main Irish festivals in Fairyhouse or Punchestown.

"It's a blow for us here as he was in great form and we were look forward to him running in County Hurdle."