Triple Grade 1-winning chaser Fastorslow ruled out for the season

Fastorslow, who has beaten Galopin Des Champs three times, will not line up in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase or the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup after being ruled out for the season. 

Although not entered for this month's King George, it was widely expected that Fastorslow would be supplemented for the Grade 1 at Kempton but now trainer Martin Brassil has revealed his stable star has a soft-tissue injury that will keep him out of action for the next few months. 

The dual Punchestown Gold Cup winner made his comeback in the John Durkan Chase last month, a race he won last year, and finished fourth to Fact To File. However, he picked up a knock that was described by Brassil as not too serious but enough to rule him out during a crucial period of the season.

Brassil said: "He got a bang in the John Durkan and picked up a soft-tissue injury. It's nothing serious at all, but the whole season is condensed into the next three or four months and that rules us out, unfortunately. It's just the timing really. If the Gold Cup were in May he would make it, but he won't make March.

Fastorslow: "He'll miss this season but will definitely be back next season"Credit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

"Before he resumed full work, we had him checked over by our veterinary team and they advised us that he'll need some time, so he'll miss this season but will definitely be back next season. It's a pity but it's just one of those things."

Fastorslow was pushed out to 10-1 (from 7) for the King George following his comeback effort in the John Durkan but was expected to dispute favouritism had he been supplemented.

The three-time Grade 1 winner was still travelling strongly when unseating JJ Slevin at the 16th fence in last season's Cheltenham Gold Cup, which was won by his old rival Galopin Des Champs. 

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