Britain's hopes of achieving their medal target in the Beijing Olympics have been dealt a blow after Zara Phillips was forced to pull out of the Games following an injury to her horse Toytown.
Phillips, the 2006 world champion, was a major hope for gold in Beijing and the bitter disappointment was intensified by this being the second Games she will miss due to an injury to her horse.
A leg problem affecting Toytown before the Athens Olympics made Phillips miss out in 2004 and now her horse has suffered another injury in training.
Phillips said: ‘I am very disappointed not to have the opportunity to ride at the Olympic Games and feel that Toytown deserved his chance to go.
‘However, with horses, these things happen and we still have a very strong team. I wish them every success.’
UK Sport, the funding body, have set a target of Britain finishing eighth in the medal table at Beijing, two places higher than in 2004.
Under the International Equestrian Federation's rules, Phillips cannot ride a replacement, as riders can only qualify on one horse.
The significance of her absence is illustrated by her record in recent years.
As well as winning individual and team eventing gold at the European Eventing Championships in 2005, she took individual gold at the World Equestrian Games the following year and was voted winner of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
