Beat That has been ruled out of the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at next month's Cheltenham Festival and will miss the remainder of the season.

The Michael Buckley-owned seven-year-old looked a seriously smart prospect when winning Grade One novice events at Aintree and Punchestown last spring, but the current campaign has not gone quite so smoothly.

He did not make his return until lining up at Cheltenham on New Year's Day and finished a well-beaten sixth behind Rock On Ruby

Speaking at a press morning at Seven Barrows, trainer Nicky Henderson revealed he has decided to draw stumps for the season and Beat That will pursue a career over fences next term.

Henderson said: "We have to say enough is enough for this year. It has not really worked for him.

"He ran a good race Cheltenham to a point, (but) it is not fair to throw him in at Cheltenham with a wishy-washy preparation.

"We will just give him a Sprinter Sacre style sabbatical and go novice chasing next season."