Noel Meade's leading Grand Annual fancy Ned Buntline will miss the Cheltenham Festival and the rest of the season.

Sent off 4-1 joint-favourite for the concluding handicap at the Festival last year, he ran a fine race to finish fourth to Next Sensation

Ned Buntline was last seen on the Flat at Gowran Park in May and was being prepared for the big spring meetings as he likes good ground.

But owner J P McManus' racing manager Frank Berry said: "He's just had some niggly problems and they've proved enough.

"He won't make the spring festivals now so Noel has decided to take a pull and bring him back in the autumn."