Irish horses Macs Joy and Harchibald will not take part in Saturday’s “Fighting Fifth” Hurdle at Newcastle. Both riders were favorites to win the Group One event but Macs Joy pulled a muscle and Harchibald suffered a mild injury.

“He won't be coming over as he has sprained a muscle in his backside,” Jessica Harrington, trainer of Macs Joy explained. “It's nothing too serious, he was just a bit stiff this afternoon. We will most likely wait until Christmas with him now as I didn't put him in the Bula as he was going to run this weekend.”

As for Harchibald, his trainer Noel Meade said this new injury has nothing to do with the injury the horse got last year. “He worked yesterday morning and were absolutely delighted with him but last evening he was very slightly lame on his near hind. He's better this morning and he's walking sound but at the top he is just feeling something. He's just twinged a muscle or something in his quarters,” Meade said.