Injury trouble for Gold Cup winner

Trouble ahead: The gelding in front at Down Royal

Cheltenham Gold Cup winner looks Like Trouble could be out for the rest of this season with a tendon injury.

The shock news came just two days after the gelding put in a brilliant performance in his first public outing since taking the big prize.

On Saturday, the Noel Chance-trained gelding won the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase by 15 lengths under Richard Johnson at Down Royal.

Among the field trailing in his wake was Florida Pearl, the runner-up at Cheltenham in March.

Chance discovered the injury after the eight-year-old returned to his Lambourn base.

Looks Like Trouble had been as short as 5-2 favourite for a repeat win in next year's Gold Cup.

I want to warn people not to back him at this stage

  Looks Like Trouble's trainer Noel Chance

He was also strongly fancied for the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, but plans are now on hold.

"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 Chance.

Could be serious

"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.

"He will be scanned on Friday and I want punters to hold fire until then," said Chance.

Business leader: See More is new Gold Cup favourite

"I just want people to know that it's 60-40 the scan going the wrong way."

If Looks Like Trouble is ruled out, it will continue a miserable follow-up record in the Gold Cup for the previous year's winner.

No horse has triumphed in the Cheltenham showpiece two years running since L'Escargot in 1971.

On hearing the injury news, a shocked Johnson said: "If it's right then I'm absolutely gutted."

Bookmakers have hastily revised their Tote Gold Cup odds, with 1999 winner See More Business installed as new favourite, generally available at 7-2.

Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup 2001 betting

William Hill: 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: 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: 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.

Pertemps King George VI Chase, Kempton

Coral: 6-4 See More Business, 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.