Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Looks Like Trouble may be out for the rest of the season with a tendon injury.
The shock news came after the Noel Chance-trained gelding produced a superb reappearance performance in winning the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase by 15 lengths under Richard Johnson at Down Royal on Saturday.
Chance discovered the injury after the eight-year-old returned to his Lambourn base.
'When I took the bandages off him after he had travelled home from Down Royal I noticed he had an inflamed tendon in his near fore,' said the trainer.
'This would have been alright and easy to deal with as he wasn`t cut but the injury could be something more serious and I don`t like the look of it.
'I`m making this announcement because I want to warn people not to back him at this stage. It`s very unfortunate.'
Looks Like Trouble was as short as 5-2 favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup afterwards Saturday`s superb success.
'For the first time the horse got the critical acclaim he deserved,' said Chance.
He had hoped to run the eight-year-old in the King George VI Chase at Kempton but plans are now on hold.
'He will be a scanned on Friday and I want punters to hold fire until then.
'I just want to people to know that it`s 60-40 the scan going the wrong way.
On hearing the news, a shocked Johnson said: 'If it`s right then I`m absolutely gutted.'
Bookmakers hastily revised their Tote Gold Cup odds following the news of the injury to Looks Like Trouble with See More Business being now favourite generally at 7-2.
William Hill bet: 7-2 See More Business, 11-2 Beau, 8-1 Cyfor Malta, 12-1 First Gold, 16-1 Florida Pearl, 20-1 Ad Hoc, Alexander Banquet.
Coral bet: 7-2 See More Business, 6-1 Beau, 8-1 Florida Pearl, 9-1 Cyfor Malta, 12-1 First Gold, 20-1 Commanche Court, Limestone Lad, Lord Noelie, 25-1 Ad Hoc, Alexander Banquet, Rince Ri, 33-1 bar.
Sean Graham bet: 7-2 See More Business, 13-2 Beau, 9-1 Cyfor Malta, 12-1 First Gold, Florida Pearl, 14-1 Limestone Lad, Native Upmanship, 16-1 Alexander Banquet, Lord Noelie, Paris Pike, 20-1 bar.
See More Business also heads Coral`s market on the Pertemps King George VI Chase at 6-4: Other leading prices: 5-2 First Gold, 10-1 Marlborough, Flagship Uberalles, 12-1 Beau, 14-1 Lord Noelie, 16-1 Direct Route, 20-1 Ad Hoc, Legal Right, 25-1 bar.
