The world's most expensive Jumps horse, Palladium, has been ruled out of Friday's Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Purchased by Lord and Lady Bamford of JCB fame for £1.2million, the German Derby winner was set to make his first highly-anticipated appearance at the Festival following an impressive hurdles debut win at Huntingdon in January.
However, those plans have been scuppered after his trainer Nicky Henderson announced the four-year-old had sustained an injury.
In a statement, Henderson said: "We have had quite a blow this morning when it appears that Palladium had got cast overnight and is quite sore this morning and we really can’t see how he can be fit to run in the JCB Triumph Hurdle.
"This is dreadful news and an unfair shock for the Bamford family as we seriously thought we had an outstanding chance on Friday.
"We are confident he will soon be able to resume training but he will require a few easy days.
"He would be back in time for Aintree but I think in all probability he will now return to his flat career.
"He is a very good looking and talented young horse with a great temperament and he has a really bright future under both codes."
Henderson still has a strong hand in the Triumph with Lulamba second favourite in the betting behind East India Dock.
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