The eight-year-old was a general 6-1 shot to defend his Stayers' crown for top Irish trainer Willie Mullins.

The gelding, who was last sighted running second to Faugheen at Punchestown last April, was found to be sore after routine work.

Penhill won last year's Stayers' on his seasonal reappearance and was bidding to repeat the feat.

But Mullins revealed that the horse, who also won the 2017 Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham, would miss this year's Festival.

Mullins said: "We worked him yesterday and this morning he was very sore."

The market for the Sun Racing Stayers' Hurdle is headed by Paisley Park.

Emma Lavelle's top stayer is now as short as 11-8 to land a second Grade 1 of the season.

Mullins now looks set to rely on Faugheen (6-1) and Bacardys (20-1) in the £325,000 contest.

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