The Grey Monk looks certain to miss the Martell Grand National at Aintree on April 8th.
Nicky Richards' 12-year-old was an impressive winner over hurdles at Haydock in November but fell when switched back to chasing at Kelso earlier this month.
The trainer said today: "The back man is coming to have a look at him tomorrow, he has been a bit sore since Kelso.
"I can't rush him forward because he is stiff and sore and I am 99.9 per cent sure he won't run in the National."
Richards has not given up hope of The Grey Monk being seen out again this season, and he added: "If the back man can work away on his muscles and ease him up a bit and everything went all right then we would have a think about the Whitbread if the ground was right for him at Sundown.
"If we have to miss that too well so be it, but he has not got a lot of miles on the clock and if we can race away with him next year then we will have a go at the big one next season."
