All The World was set to become the first runner from Japan at the jumping extravaganza but he has now been scratched though his trainer would like to try again next year
Japan’s first Cheltenham Festival challenger will not make the trip to Britain.
All The World was set to become the first runner from his country in the Unibet Champion Hurdle. The eight-year-old was set to be a surprise opponent for hot favourite Constitution Hill in the £450,000 contest on March 11.
All the World, who is trained by Kazuya Nakatake, was a multiple winner on the Flat before switching disciplines in December 2023.
He won three of his first four races over hurdles and finished third in the Grade 2 Tokyo High-Jump in October last year on his sixth start.
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His owner Shinji Maeda is best known as the owner of Contrail, winner of Japan’s Triple Crown on the Flat in 2020 and the 2021 Japan Cup.
But his connections have now had to abandon the trip after All The World developed periostitis, inflammation of tissue around the bones
Kazuya explained to Netkeiba, “He has withdrawn due to periostitis. He will rest until it heals.
“I would like to take on the challenge next year. We have several steeplechase horses, not just All The World so if they perform well I would like to go.”
All The World is the second horse to be ruled out of the Champion Hurdle within 24 hours after Willie Mullins revealed that the exciting Anzadam would miss the rest of the season.
Anzadam was cut 8-1 for the Champion Hurdle after defending his unbeaten record at Naas last Sunday, following up a Grade 3 success at Fairyhouse at the end of November.
“He’ll miss the remainder of the season,” said Mullins. “He picked up a little injury and won’t be ready for Aintree.”
It remains to be seen whether Anzadam has run his last race over hurdles.
After last Sunday’s win, the champion trainer of Ireland and Great Britain, mooted the possibility of sending Anzadam over fences next season, telling reporters: “You wouldn’t mind going novice chasing next year.”
