Gerri Colombe suffers season-ending setback

"It's not career ending or especially serious but it's come at the wrong time of the season so we're going to have to rule him out of the spring festivals."

SETBACK: Gordon Elliott has been forced to rule his star staying chaser Gerri Colombe out for the rest of the season. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.

Gordon Elliott has been forced to rule his star staying chaser Gerri Colombe out for the rest of the season.

Last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up and Aintree Bowl winner has not been seen since disappointing on his reappearance at Down Royal in early November, when he finished only third behind Envoi Allen in his bid for back-to-back victories in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase.