Injury woe for Looks Like Trouble

Looks Like Trouble's chances of becoming the first horse for 30 years to successfully defend his Cheltenham Gold Cup crown next March have been wrecked by injury.

Less than 48 hours after the Noel Chance-trained gelding beat Dorans Pride by 15 lengths in Down Royal's Champion Chase in Northern Ireland, it emerged that a swelling in his near-foreleg may bring his season to a close.

"He arrived back last night and when I took the bandages off his legs this morning there was a lot of heat in his near-fore tendon," said Chance.

"I would normally keep such things to myself but so many punters will want to back him that I have to tell them to hold fire.

"There's only a 30 per cent chance he'll run again this term."

Looks Like Trouble was scheduled to run next in Kempton's King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.