Taranis to miss Cheltenham & Aintree

Taranis will not run in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup or the John Smith's Grand National after meeting with a setback.

Paul Nicholls' nine-year-old has been scratched from the two feature events of the National Hunt season, according to official notices from Weatherbys on Wednesday evening.

The 2007 Ryanair Chase winner had made a triumphant return from over two years on the sidelines with a leg injury when landing the Argento Chase at Cheltenham in January.

Owner Angela Yeoman said: "It is not a leg problem, which is a relief, but something is the matter with him. We are not quite sure what the problem is yet, but I don't want to run him if he's not right."

"I knew there was a little problem on Tuesday night but I've not spoken to Paul today." Yeoman added that Taranis will now undergo veterinary treatment in Newmarket to ascertain the extent of the setback.

He had been as low as 20/1 shot for the Gold Cup and around the 40/1 mark for Aintree glory.