Festival hero Champagne Classic out for the season

Champagne Classic, the Cheltenham Festival winner who Michael O'Leary labelled, with tongue in cheek, "without doubt the worst" horse he owns, is out for the season.

Trainer Gordon Elliott revealed the six-year-old had suffered a leg injury that will prevent him from adding to his three victories this year, after one of which – the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle – O'Leary made his jocular remark.

Champagne Classic followed up his Cheltenham victory with a Grade 1 win at the Punchestown festival in April.

Elliott said: "Champagne Classic is out for the season after injuring a leg, which is disappointing."

Beckford: finished second to Sioux Nation in the Phoenix Stakes on SundayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Elliott's Beckford was just touched off when bidding to give his trainer a first Group 1 Flat winner on Sunday, as the colt finished a narrow second to Sioux Nation in the Phoenix Stakes.

"He ran a very good race and we were delighted with him," said Elliott. "He'd definitely need an extra furlong on that [good to firm] ground. We're not sure what we'll do with him next just yet."

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