WILLIE MULLINS has ruled out Energumene from next week's Cheltenham Festival.
His star had been the main danger to Shishkin in the Arkle on the opening day.
But the Irish maestro has been forced to pull the plug on Tuesday's race with his novice suffering a setback.
Mullins revealed the news on his website on Friday morning.
A statement simply read: "Breaking News – Energumene has met with a setback and unfortunately won’t be running at the Cheltenham Festival next week."
It means Nicky Henderson's Shishkin faces one less serious rival, with Dan Skelton's Allmankind now his main threat on paper.
The bookies quickly cut Shishkin in to as short as 8-15 for the Grade 1.
More to follow…
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