Katarino's Cheltenham prospects lay in tatters today after the horse finished last of four in the Bonusprint National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell.
The defeat of the 8-11 favourite, seeking to stake his claim for a place in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle, left trainer Nicky Henderson 'shattered'.
In one of the shocks of the season, victory in the two mile four furlong contest went to the 25-1 outsider of four Male-Ana-Mou.
Last season's Elite Racing Club Triumph Hurdle winner folded tamely from the second last, with ease before quickening clear to score by 10 lengths from Master Beveled.
Katarino had appeared to be travelling comfortably under Mick Fitzgerald and looked poised for victory leaving the back straight, but the wheels came off in spectacular fashion up the home straight.
He was overhauled on the flat for third spot by Count Campioni, who stayed on after losing touch with a blunder three out.
Henderson was unable to account for the performance, although a subsequent veterinary examination revealed that Katarino had suffered a hoof injury and was found to be in a 'fairly distressed' condition after returning to the racecourse stables.
In the immediate aftermath Henderson appeared crestfallen.
He said: "I'm afraid I can't tell you anything at the moment. Shattered would be the word. He'd been in very good form. He'd done everything right and one would have even said one was fairly confident that he was very much back to himself. But obviously he isn't.
"He's stopped to nothing, he was absolutely walking at the end and we've got to suss out why, rather than we're going to do next."
Lewes trainer Jamie Poulton knows exactly where he is going with Male-Ana-Mou, the Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, for which the seven-year-old has been cut to 10-1 by Coral from 40s.
Poulton said: "I've only got half a dozen jumpers and if he was in a bigger yard he'd be taken more seriously than he was before now. He hadn't jumped a hurdle until October so he's learning very quickly and he's doing it very well."
Andrew Thornton, who scored on another SunAlliance candidate in Celtic Native at Wincanton recently, agrees that the Cheltenham contest is a realistic target.
The jockey said: "It's very difficult to judge between the two horses. These were two totally different races and they are totally different types. But he deserves to take his chance at Cheltenham. Where do you go with a horse like him now?
"This was no fluke, halfway up the straight I was always going to win."
Samakaan was suggested as a possible for Cheltenham's Grand Annual Chase by trainer Venetia Williams after his bloodless victory in the BEIB Novices Chase, the 4-11 shot scoring by seven lengths in the hands of Tony McCoy.
Miss Williams said: "We might think about the Grand Annual, although all things are possible. I know he's won over two and a half miles here, but it is rather different and a stiffer two miles is what he wants."
Punters, who latched onto the booking of Irish amateur Paul Cashman for Kings Castle, were rewarded with a 2-1 success in the Amberley Castle Novices' Hurdle.
Cashman had ridden Kings Castle to success in a point-to-point in Ireland in January and had been on board when the five-year-old won a bumper on his first outing for Ron Hodges at the Sussex track two weeks earlier.
Kings Castle scored by nine lengths from Janey Kate after which Hodges said: "He's going to be a nice three mile handicapper next season, but if he keeps winning like that he might not be well handicapped."
Gunner Welburn could join stablemate Castle Mane in the Christie's Foxhunter Challenge Cup at Cheltenham after gaining his second success of the season in the Fontwell Foxhunters Trial (Hunters' Chase).
The giant eight-year-old was partnered to a seven length success by 20-year-old Rowan Cope, who will take the mount at the Festival, with trainer Caroline Bailey's first choice rider Ben Pollock lined up to partner last year's winner Castle Mane.
Castle Mane, a major disappointment on his comeback at Haydock earlier this month, could appear at Newbury on March 3 on the way to the Festival.
Mrs Bailey said: "He's in good order. But if the ground is heavy at Newbury he'll go straight to Cheltenham. He doesn't deserve another hard race on heavy ground."
