CHELTENHAM (England), March 15: The Cheltenham Gold Cup, the blue riband event of the jumps festival, suffered another blow when 7-2 favourite Kingscliff was withdrawn on Tuesday.

The race to decide the champion staying steeplechaser lost three-times winner Best Mate last week. Henrietta Knight’s 10-year-old broke a blood vessel on the gallops.

Kingscliff had been promoted to favouritism in Best Mate’s absence but trainer Robert Alner was unhappy with the horse’s final workout. Kingscliff was also a late withdrawal from the race last year.—Reuters