Cracking Smart ruled out of Cheltenham Festival

Cracking Smart has suffered a setback which will keep him on the sidelines for the rest of the season.

Trainer Gordon Elliott had been preparing the Grade Two-winning six-year-old for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

But the County Meath handler told his Betfair blog: "Unfortunately Cracking Smart had a setback so he is out of the Albert Bartlett and will not run for the remainder of the season."

Cracking Smart has done well this season and won the Navan Novice Hurdle in December, after which he finished a close second to Next Destination in the Grade One Lawlor's of Naas Novice Hurdle.