Massini will march straight to Festival

Tom George will send Tell Massini straight to the Cheltenham Festival after being left frustrated by the weather.

The six-year-old, unbeaten in three starts over hurdles, is a general 4-1 favourite for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.

George had hoped to give him a prep run before tackling the Grade 1, three-mile event in March, but has conceded that he's run out of time.

His two Grade 2 victories this season, including an eight-length success over Reve De Sivola at Cheltenham in November, came on soft ground.

There had been concerns that Tell Massini (right) would miss the Festival if the ground became too fast but his trainer said: "I don't think the ground will be a problem. As long as it is good to soft, or it is watered good ground, he'll run.

"He's in good form but won't run again before the Albert Bartlett.

"We'll go straight there. We had an initial problem in that we were under two feet of snow but now we have the problem that meetings are being called off. It is a bit frustrating."