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Noel Meade has confirmed it is "almost certain" Monksland will miss next week's Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival after suffering a setback.
An impressive winner on his first start over three miles at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting, the six-year-old was set to line up at Prestbury Park as a leading contender for the staying hurdle crown in the absence of four-times winner Big Buck's.
Meade said: "He had a setback (on Tuesday) and although we don't think it's anything too serious, looking at him I'd say it's almost certain he is not going to make Cheltenham. I don't know whether his season is over yet, we'll just have to see on that, but we're obviously gutted it looks like Cheltenham is out."
