Favourite Kingscliff is out

The Cheltenham Festival was dealt a fresh blow today after Kingscliff, the new favourite for Friday's Gold Cup, became the latest big name to pull out.

The showpiece of the four-day Festival, which opened today, has already been hit by the shock withdrawal of Best Mate last Thursday.

But today's news threatened chaos in the ante-post betting, as Robert Alner's gelding joined Best Mate on the sick list.

Kingscliff was as short as 4-1 favourite for Friday's big race after Best Mate's withdrawal, but Alner announced late this morning his star chaser will miss the £350,000 contest after a setback.

Following Kingscliff's withdrawal, bookmakers Corals trimmed the Irish raider Beef Or Salmon to 4-1 favourite, with Strong Flow on 9-2 and Grey Abbey and Celestial Gold on 5-1.

Spokesman David Stevens said: "We've never known a Cheltenham Festival where so many ante-post favourites have bitten the dust even before a race has been run."