Marine Nationale has been ruled out of the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham.
Last year's winner of the day two showpiece was found to have a sore neck on Tuesday morning and won't recover in time to line-up next week.
It's a huge blow to trainer Barry Connell, who also owns nine-year-old, and jockey Sean Flanagan, who partnered him to an emotional success in the 2025 renewal.
That was a second victory at the Cheltenham Festival for Marine Nationale who also landed the 2023 Sky Bet Supreme under the late Michael O'Sullivan.
In his absence Majborough is now odds-on with Paddy Power and Sky Bet to land the Champion Chase, topping their market at 8/11. L'Eau Du Sud is a 7/2 chance with Il Etait Temps 4/1.
The trainer told Tuesday's Nick Luck Daily Podcast: "We went into his stable this morning and the horse was very sore through his neck and down in the dumps. We suspect he may have rolled, got cast, and done it that way. It's nothing too serious but just the timings we have don't work. The vet has come in this morning and given him pain medication for it and unfortunately we only have a number of days left to go and with withdrawals times and so forth it's not going to be possible which is gutting.
"We've had a clear run with this horse right through his career, he's incredibly sound and has hardly ever missed a day through lameness, sickness or anything else. It's a big blow but I'm sure we'll have him back for Punchestown and next year. He has very little mileage on the clock."
Champion Chase - Paddy Power & Sky Bet prices: 8/11 Majborough, 7/2 L’Eau Du Sud, 4 Il Etait Temps, 7 Quilixios, 10 Jonbon, 16 Thistle Ask, 20 Irish Panther, 25 Only By Night, Solness, 33 JPR One, 40 Captain Guinness, Found A Fifty, 50 Calico, Saint Segal, 66 Libberty Hunter, 100 Brookie, Senecia
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