NICKY Henderson's Grandouet will not run in the Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton on Saturday.

The Lambourn trainer said concerns over a setback earlier in the week had dispersed but he does not want to run on very testing ground after an interrupted preparation.

Henderson said: "The filling in Grandouet's near fore has dispersed as we had hoped with exercise and is now negligible.

"However, in view of the likelihood of very testing conditions at Wincanton and the fact that his training for this race has obviously been interrupted, we have all decided to forego a prep race and train him at home without a run before the Champion Hurdle.

"If it was the Champion Hurdle this weekend, he would be able to run but we feel under the circumstances a tough race in the ground would not be ideal and, like many of our others - Long Run, Bobs Worth, Simonsig, Rolling Star, Binocular, Riverside Theatre - he will have a racecourse gallop between now and then."

Despite having to miss his weekend engagement, Henderson is upbeat about Grandouet's Cheltenham chance, adding: "He is fit and well and, dare I say, fancied.

"Khyber Kim will be running in the Kingwell after a lengthy absence but he seems in very good order. He will undoubtedly come on for the race but is in great shape."

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