No-hopers face Cheltenham ban

Cheltenham does not want horses 'running out of their depth'

Rank outsiders are to be prevented from running at four top Cheltenham Festival races including the Gold Cup.

Horses with an official British Horseracing Board (BHB) rating of less than 130 will no longer be allowed to take part in the events.

The move follows controversy over 500-1 chances lining up in the last two runnings of the Champion Hurdle.

Cheltenham managing director Edward Gillespie said it was important to protect the Festival's "integrity."

Following a recommendation made by Cheltenham officials, the BHB's jump racing committee endorsed the idea last week.

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Gillespie said the directive was being put in place to prevent horses competing at a level beyond their ability.

He told the Racing Post: "We have been very wary not to point the finger at any particular horse.

"I don't expect much opposition because I hope trainers respect what we are trying to do, which is to provide championship contenders in championship races."

The ruling applies to four non-novice championship races - the Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase, World Hurdle and Gold Cup.

Owner Fergus Wilson, who ran the 500-1 shots Astonville and Turnium in the Champion Hurdle and Astonville in the 2005 Gold Cup, said his horses had never been a danger to any of the better-fancied runners.

"I think the racing bigwigs have put their minds to it and come up with a token gesture to placate the media," said Wilson.

"Small fields do not guarantee no casualties. I can recall four runners in the Gold Cup and a fatality."