Istabraq and Limestone Lad will not have to contend with some of the best of Britain's hurdling form in Sunday week's AIG Champion Hurdle, as Relkeel, the three-time Bula Hurdle winner, will run instead at Haydock the day before.

Relkeel edged out the Martin Pipe-trained novice Far Cry when gaining a third Bula success last month, and Far Cry is currently a 10 to 1 second favourite to Istabraq in the Champion Hurdle market.

Relkeel is one of 15 names still in the AIG, which also include Master Beveled and three horses from Nicky Henderson's yard. Manhatten Castle, the sole Irish entry in Saturday's Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot, has been described as "most unlikely to run" by a spokesperson for the Arthur Moore stable.

The stable's two other entries at Ascot, More Than A Stroll and The Gatherer, are also doubtful.