Harry Derham’s Queens Gamble will miss the remainder of the season following a setback.
Formerly trained by Oliver Sherwood, who now operates as Derham's assistant, Queens Gamble took her record to two from two over hurdles with a snug Listed success at Taunton in December.
However, she will be forced to miss her intended engagement in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle, for which she was a general 12/1 shot, following a minor setback.
Speaking with the Tote on Tuesday evening, Derham, who could still be represented at the Cheltenham Festival by the likes of Shared, Imagine and the Brooks Koepka and Graeme McDowell-owned Givemefive, said: "Queens Gamble was found to have some heat in her legs on Monday evening after routine canters."
He added: "Whilst everything scans fine, her owners Alex Frost, Ed Galvin and their families and I have decided to stop for the rest of the season and not risk doing any further damage by training her for Cheltenham."
"She will return, all being well, in the autumn."
The withdrawal of Queens Gamble has seen the Gordon Elliott-trained Brighterdaysahead harden slightly at the head of the market, with Paddy Power now making her a 7/4 (from 2/1) in her bid to remain unbeaten.
