Joe Lively to miss remainder of season

Joe Lively will miss the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the John Smith's Grand National after sustaining a season-ending injury in the Levy Board Chase at Kempton yesterday.

The 10-year-old gelding, winner of the Letheby & Christopher Chase at Cheltenham last month, is expected back at Colin Tizzard's Dorset stables in a few days after suffering a nasty cut when a disappointng fifth behind Madison Du Berlais.

Tizzard is still awaiting a full assessment of the damage from the racecourse veterinary practice in Reading, from where the horse is being treated.

'They don't think he's cut through his sheath now, but it was a fair mess. It's been flushed out and he's going to stay at the vets for three or four days,' said Tizzard.

'I saw him last night and he was walking sound, but it's a nasty cut. He cut the same place when he won at Cheltenham in November but this is worse and there was some scar tissue from that.'

'The jury's out. I don't want to say he's better than I thought as it's tempting fate, but apparently he hasn't cut through the sheath or the tendon so we'll see. Certainly this season's out because it's a nasty cut and we're well into February.'