Michael O'Leary has admitted Sir Des Champs may never make it back to competitive action.
The nine-year-old looked a future chasing star when winning a Punchestown Grade One by 36 lengths in 2012 before going on to land the Hennessy at Leopardstown in 2013 and chase home Bobs Worth in that year's Gold Cup.
However, he has been off the track since December 2013 after suffering a leg injury and O'Leary, owner of Gigginstown House Stud, believes it will be an uphill battle to get him back on track.
He told At The Races: "Next year's he's 10, rising 11, but it's probably over.
"We'll try (to get him back into training) but the chances are he won't come back."
