'He's such a talented horse' - Next Destination ruled out for season

Talented but "very fragile" chaser Next Destination has been ruled out for the season with a leg injury.

It is the latest setback for owner Malcolm Denmark's nine-year-old, who spent two and a half years on the sidelines after landing the second Grade 1 win of his career in the Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle at Punchestown in April 2018.

On his return, the owner switched him from Willie Mullins to Paul Nicholls, for whom he won Grade 2 novice chases at Newbury and Warwick last season before finishing second to Galvin, who is now a leading Cheltenham Gold Cup hope, in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham.

Next Destination had been due to reappear in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November but was withdrawn on the morning of the race as he was off his food, since when he has not raced.

Next Destination (centre): won a Grade 1 novice hurdle at the 2018 Punchestown festivalCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The horse was not among the entries for the Gold Cup which closed on Tuesday and Nicholls' assistant Harry Derham said: "Next Destination has got a small leg injury, but it's keeping him out and he's such a talented and delicate horse he unfortunately won't run this season.

"He was due to run in the Betfair Chase and it's one of those very unfortunate things. Mr Denmark has been so patient with him.

"He was obviously a very fragile horse because he'd had so long off the track when he joined us but, fingers crossed, he'll be back next season because he's a fantastic horse and we're very lucky to have him."

Next Destination, who finished fourth in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in 2017 and third in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle there 12 months later, has won seven of his 12 races under rules and earned nearly £210,000 in prize-money.

In his absence, Nicholls' only entry in the Gold Cup, which he has won four times, is King George VI Chase third Saint Calvados.

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