Thierry Doumen won the Irish Champion Hurdle on Foreman
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Champion jockey Tony McCoy suffered another blow in the run-up to the Cheltenham Festival as his Arkle Trophy hope Foreman was ruled out of the race.
McCoy has only a few guaranteed rides because of the virus which has hit the Jonjo O'Neill stable.
Foreman was considered a decent each-way prospect for the Arkle, but has been suffering with colic.
The horse, trained in France by Thierry Doumen, won the Irish Champion Hurdle in 2004.
Doumen's seven-year-old was around the 10-1 fifth favourite in most lists for the two-mile novice contest on Tuesday.
But he joins a growing list of absentees for the race including Cloone River and Kauto Star, who Foreman chased home at Newbury in December.
"Unfortunately he's got a bout a bout of colic and won't make it to Cheltenham," Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus, told the Racing Post.
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