Clan Des Obeaux ruled out of Aintree return in Bowl

Paul Nicholls has lost a race against time to get Clan Des Obeaux ready for his defence of the Aintree Bowl title.

The dual King George VI Chase winner had been making good progress from a suspensory injury ahead of a planned return to action at the Grand National meeting.

Clan Des Obeaux, owned by Paul Barber, Ged Mason and Alex Ferguson, was last seen finishing second to Allaho in the Punchestown Gold Cup last April.

The 11-year-old had been making strides in his rehabilitation, but Nicholls has decided he will not attempt a hat-trick in the race he won in 2021 and 2022 and wait until next term with the five-times Grade One winner instead.

He said: "We have run out of time to get him ready, so we will just have to wait until next season.

"He had a little bit of a suspensory problem and has been doing everything and coming along well. He did a strong piece of work last week away and it has just flared up again.

"The warning light is flashing and we've just not had enough time to get him right, so we've had to pull stumps for the season.

"Unfortunately, much as we and everyone has tried to get him ready, we're not going to get there."

King George winner and Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Bravemansgame may head to Aintree, although the 13-times champion trainer admitted there are no guarantees.

He added: "Bravemansgame is not necessarily going. It's still an option, always was.

"All those horses that went to Cheltenham, we are not making any decision until nearer the time.

"We have got plenty of time yet. He is a possible, along with Stage Star and all those. It's not a definite but it's a possible