Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has been dealt a double blow with the news Zarkandar and Caid Du Berlais are out for the season.
Nicholls had planned to bring Zarkandar back for a spring campaign but a minor problem has not progressed as hoped. Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Caid Du Berlais has a leg injury.
Writing in his Betfair column, Nicholls said: "Zarkandar excelled himself in landing a hugely valuable Grade One hurdle at Auteuil but he picked up an injury in April and was having an easy time before a spring campaign.
"He hasn't made the progress we'd hoped, so we've decided to give him a year off.
"Caid Du Berlais was the star of the show in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, but he, too, will have time out after sustaining a minor leg injury.
"Both horses should be back in training in the autumn."
