'It’s a big blow for everyone involved but he will be back' - Caldwell Potter ruled out for the season

Dual Grade 1 winner Caldwell Potter has been ruled out for the season after sustaining a setback.

The seven-year-old picked up a small injury after galloping at Newbury on Monday.

Caldwell Potter ended last season in style, winning the Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and the Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree.

Paul Nicholls posted on X: “It’s with great disappointment I'm informing everyone that after Caldwell Potter’s gallop at Newbury on Monday he sustained a small injury, which after consultation with vets and his owners, will mean he misses the rest of this season. 

“Obviously it’s a big blow for everyone involved with him but he will be back.”

The Betfair Chase at Haydock was an intended starting point for Caldwell Potter, who was the 4-1 second favourite. He was also entered in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham next month.

Caldwell Potter was a high-profile €740,000 purchase for connections, including Sir Alex Ferguson and Ged Mason, at the Caldwell Construction dispersal sale last February.

After his exploits in the spring, he was priced at 14-1 for this season’s Ryanair Chase and 33-1 for the Gold Cup.

Read more . . .

'It’s been very colourful and I did something that I loved' - Frankie Dettori reflects on his career and explains retirement decision 

Charles and Philip Byrnes to face IHRB hearing in December over controversial Wexford incident 

'Frankie is going to get himself stuck in, this is not a part-time job' - Kia Joorabchian on teaming up with the 'Messi' of horseracing  

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.