Martell Grand National hope Courlis Pontet is 'very likely' to miss the rest of the season after pulling up lame in the Racing in Wessex Chase at Wincanton on today.
The Robert Ogden-owned French import had been well supported for the Aintree showpiece and was also champion trainer Martin Pipe's charity bet to land the event.
However Ogden's racing manager Barry Simpson revealed today: 'He was pulled up at Wincanton and subsequently found to be lame.
'We are awaiting vets reports but it has to be said that he is very likely to be out for the rest of the season as a result of the injury.'
Courlis Pontet, trained by Paul Nicholls, had entered Grand National calculations after winning the Sporting Index Select Chase at Cheltenham last month and had made a winning debut in Britain when scoring over hurdles at Newton Abbot in November. -PA
