Clan Des Obeaux has not been seen on the track since Punchestown in April last year; the 11-year-old was being readied for a shot at a third consecutive Aintree Bowl title; trainer Paul Nicholls: "The warning light is flashing and we've just not had enough time to get him right"
Monday 27 March 2023 10:23, UK
Paul Nicholls has lost a race against time to get Clan Des Obeaux ready for Aintree.
The dual King George VI Chase winner had been making good progress from a suspensory injury ahead of a planned return to action at the Grand National meeting, where he was set to defend his Aintree Bowl title.
The 11-year-old, owned by Paul Barber, Ged Mason and Sir Alex Ferguson, was last seen finishing second to Allaho in the Punchestown Gold Cup last April.
Clan Des Obeaux had been making strides in his rehabilitation, but Nicholls has decided he will not attempt a hat-trick in the race he won in 2021 and 2022 and wait until next term with the five-times Grade One winner instead.
He said: "We have run out of time to get him ready, so we will just have to wait until next season.
"He had a little bit of a suspensory problem and has been doing everything and coming along well.
"He did a strong piece of work last week away and it has just flared up again.
"The warning light is flashing and we've just not had enough time to get him right, so we've had to pull stumps for the season.
"Unfortunately, much as we and everyone has tried to get him ready, we're not going to get there."
