Colin Tizzard has been dealt a blow after Fox Norton was ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival and the rest of the season.
The blow to the Tizzard team comes on the same day that Ben Pauling's stable star Willoughby Court was said to be suffering with a foot problem and may miss out on the JLT Novices' Chase.
Agonisingly beaten in the Queen Mother Champion Chase last season, Fox Norton was being aimed at the Ryanair Chase over further this year.
Joe Tizzard, the Dorset trainer's son and assistant, said in a statement: "Unfortunately, Fox Norton will miss the Cheltenham Festival and the rest of the season due to a slight suspensory injury."
A close second to Politologue in the Tingle Creek, he was upped to three miles for the King George at Christmas when he disappointed, but he was subsequently found to have been suffering with a spinal issue.
Fox Norton had been second favourite for the Ryanair behind last year's winner Un De Sceaux.
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