SHLOER CHASE HOLDER L'EAU DU SUD OUT FOR THE SEASON WITH TENDON STRAIN

Dan Skelton's L'Eau Du Sud will miss the entire jumps season after suffering a tendon injury, the trainer confirmed at Aintree on Saturday, ending plans for a defence of the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham next weekend.

The eight-year-old grey, who is part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, had been in preparation to return to Prestbury Park for the race he won so memorably a year ago. Instead, the discovery of a tendon strain means he now faces a full campaign on the sidelines.

"Unfortunately he's out for the year," Skelton said at Aintree, where he delivered the news during a busy afternoon at the transferred meeting.

A major blow to the two-mile division

L'Eau Du Sud's standing among the leading two-mile chasers was established in last season's Shloer, when he thrashed Jonbon by 15 lengths in one of the most striking performances of the autumn. He went on to finish third in the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival earlier this year, confirming his place in the top bracket of the division.

His absence removes one of the most familiar names from this year's Shloer, for which Jonbon is among seven entries. The race is one of the early-season highlights for the two-mile chasing division and now takes on a different look without its reigning champion.

Another frustration for Skelton

The setback is an unwelcome one for Skelton, who has also had to rethink plans for his leading hurdler Mydaddypaddy after withdrawing him from Saturday's Molyneux Hurdle at Aintree because of the ground. The trainer did have the consolation of Talk To The Man finishing second in the Grade 2 Boodles Rising Stars Novices' Chase on the same card.

No timetable has been given for L'Eau Du Sud's return beyond the need for a season's rest, and connections will hope that the time off allows the popular grey to come back to the track next year. Tendon injuries commonly require a lengthy recovery period, and Skelton's decision to rule him out now removes any doubt about his participation in the season's biggest two-mile chases.