Racing: No First Gold at Cheltenham festival

A leg injury has ruled top French chaser First Gold out of the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Coral had been offering 9-1 about First Gold after his disappointing performance in the Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton and spokesman Simon Clare believes his absence will not produce too much of a hole in the market.

He said: ‘‘Fortunately for punters First Gold has always been fairly short in the Gold Cup betting so there won’t be too many torn up ante-post betting slips.’’

First Gold will now miss the rest of the season the after a progressive leg problem got worse.

Trainer Francois Doumen said: ‘‘I’ve got to hold his programme as he has a problem with his leg and I must get it sorted out.’’

The nine-year-old gelding was bought by JP McManus in a double deal with Barracuda after winning last season’s King George VI Chase.

He was a hot favourite for the 2001 Cheltenham Gold Cup before the intervention of foot-and-mouth but went on to make amends by scoring an impressive victory in the Martell Cup at Aintree.

Doumen has been targeting this year’s renewal of the Cheltenham spectacular for his stable star despite a his poor run on at Kempton on Boxing Day.

He finished a long way behind winner Florida Pearl but was due to renew rivalry with Willie Mullins’ charge in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown a week on Sunday.

First Gold also held a precautionary entry for the Martell Grand National but Doumen revealed his injury has worsened.

He added: ‘‘He will be out until next season as he has got a leg problem.

‘‘The leg problem has got progressively worse over recent weeks and I’ve got to stop his training.’’