Jason Maguire© Photo Healy Racing
Grand National-winning jockey Jason Maguire will miss this year's renewal of the world's greatest steeplechase as he sits out the rest of the campaign to recover from injury.
Maguire, who gained Aintree glory on Ballabriggs in 2011, has been plagued with a back problem which the rider is having treated so he can begin next season with a clean bill of health.
"He's been having some work done on his back so he can start the next season running," said his agent Chris Broad.
"He's been having a bit of trouble with his back.
"He's going to miss the rest of the season and start afresh on around May 1st.
"He's been bugged with his back and is going to put it right so he doesn't have any hiccups."
Maguire damaged his back in a fall at Catterick last month but would have missed Cheltenham anyway because of a 14-day ban.
This is the second year running Maguire has missed both the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals after a shocking fall at Stratford on the eve of Cheltenham in 2014 left him with serious injuries in hospital.
