Champion Hurdle runner-up My Tent Or Yours has been ruled out for the season by trainer Nicky Henderson after suffering a tendon injury.
The seven-year-old came within a neck of victory in the hurdling showpiece at the Cheltenham Festival in March, finding only fellow JP McManus-owned runner Jezki too strong up the famous hill.
Henderson had been looking forward to seeing his charge defend his crown in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle at the end of next month, but he will now have a prolonged period on the sidelines.
The trainer said: "Unfortunately he's had an injury and I'm not going to get him back for Cheltenham (in March), so that's it for the season.
"We were planning to stay over hurdles with him and we were looking at the Fighting Fifth, but that isn't going to happen now.
"He's not lame, he's not sore, he's not anything really, but there is an issue there unfortunately, which is very frustrating and very boring."
