Leading two-mile chaser Flagship Uberalles has been removed from Paul Nicholls' stable, it was reported today.
The Queen Mother Champion Chase third has been switched to Noel Chance's yard, along with two other horses owned by Americans Michael Krystofiak and his wife Elizabeth Gutner.
It is a big blow for Nicholls who trained the six-year-old to win four races last season, including the Mitsubishi Shogun Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown and Game Spirit Chase at Newbury.
Flagship Uberalles was pulled up on his last two starts but Krystofiak would not use that as justification for moving the gelding from Nicholls.
'When I told him on Monday he said he thought he was entitled to a reason but I said no because it's best for everyone that our reasons are not given,' he told the Racing Post.
'Giving causes can lead to silly finger-pointing and I hate that sort of behaviour.
'People will speculate that it was because the horse lost his form but that wasn't the case.'
Chance, who took charge of Flagship Uberalles plus the owners' Executive Decision and Strawberry Hill on Tuesday, was chosen due to his exploits with the likes of Mr Mulligan and Looks Like Trouble.
Krystofiak said: 'We selected Noel as our trainer because we don't think he got the credit he deserved for winning two Cheltenham Gold Cups and a Royal & Sun Alliance Chase.
'To do that from such a small base underlines what a brilliant trainer the man is.'
Flagship Uberalles was bought privately for an undisclosed sum by Krystofiak and Gutner in the spring of last year.
He gave the pair an immediate return with wins in the Guinness Arkle Trophy Chase at Cheltenham and Sandeman Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree in the owners' distinctive 'stars and stripes' colours.
