L'Homme Presse will miss the Grand National after suffering a setback.
The 11-year-old was all set to have a crack at the Aintree showpiece, however he was discovered be lame, leaving connections "absolutely devastated" that he will not line up for the 4m2f event.
Fortunately, the issue is not a serious one but, aged 11, discussions over whether he will continue to race next season will be had over the summer.
“I’m completely devastated and so are the others,” co-owner Andy Edwards told the Press Association.
“I watched him work last week and it was big grins all round, but then on Tuesday morning I got a phone call from Venetia saying he was a little bit lame in front where he has had his previous issues and they couldn’t trot him up and get him to pass the video needed for the vets.
“He won’t be ready in time (for Aintree) and he wouldn’t be allowed to run as he couldn’t pass the video of his trot up."
L'Homme Presse missed out on both the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National last season due to injury, something that has plagued him throughout his career.
He looked certain to line up in the Gold Cup last season after winning its key trial, the Cotswold Chase, but a setback he picked up following his effort in the Ascot Chase forced connections to pull stumps.
At his absolute best, he was a very high-class chaser, winning the 2022 Brown Advisory at the Cheltenham Festival as well as putting up numerous brave performances in open Grade 1 contests.
Venetia Williams' charge was arguably running the greatest race of his life before unseating Charlie Deutsch when trailing Bravemansgame by three lengths in the 2022 King George VI Chase.
Despite his age, Edwards is hopeful that he can return to the track in the autumn.
"Venetia is confident this isn’t the end, but I’m not so sure I would want to put him through it any more with how wonderful he has been. I would rather focus on his brilliance and what he has achieved from humble beginnings. They’re discussions to be had over the summer and once we know more," said Andrews.
L'Homme Presse's unexpected absence now guarantees the Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies-trained Top Of The Bill a run and he is 100/1 to win following a good second in the Grand National Trial at Haydock.
Any odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.
