Liss A Paoraigh was described yesterday as "unlikely" to run in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

A spokesperson for Dungarvan trainer John Kiely said: "She coughed today and she is an unlikely runner on Sunday."

Liss A Paoraigh had been a well-backed 7 to 1 chance with Cashmans for the Grade One race but was subsequently taken out of the betting. The mare was already a Grade One winner over the course and distance, having won the December Festival Hurdle at Christmas.

There will now be a maximum of eight runners in the AIG as the English outsider Benbyas will not travel for the race.

"We only entered him for the AIG in case it cut up. He'll run instead at Cheltenham the day before," explained trainer Declan Carroll.

Ruby Walsh scored on his first visit to Fakenham when guiding the Paul Nicholls-trained Joly Bey to victory in the Fakenham Racecourse As A Business Venue Novices' Chase over an extended three miles yesterday.

The six-year-old, who started a well-backed 4 to 7 favourite, was maintaining his trainer's excellent 50 per cent strike rate at the sharp Norfolk track.

"He jumped like a stag and I had it won a long way out," said Walsh, of Joly Bey, who scored by 13 lengths from long-time leader Regal Holly.