First Gold out for season

First Gold will miss the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown next month and the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup after being ruled out for the season due to a leg injury, it was announced today.

Trainer Francois Doumen has confirmed that the JP McManus-owned horse will not run again until the autumn after a progressive leg problem got worse.

The nine-year-old was a 10-1 chance with the sponsors for the Gold Cup.

Doumen said: 'I`ve got to hold his programme as he has a problem with his leg and I must get it sorted out.'

First Gold was bought by JP McManus in a double deal with Baracouda after winning last season`s King George VI Chase.

Looks Like Trouble, winner of the race in 2000, is clear ante-post favourite for chasing`s blue riband event.

Noel Chance`s charge, winner of the Highclere Group of Companies John Bull Chase a week last Saturday, is the general 5-1 favourite for the Festival showpiece.

Best Mate is now second best to take the race while William Hill report some interest in Behrajan, the runner-up in this season`s Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury.

Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup betting:

William Hill: 5-1 Looks Like Trouble, 6-1 Best Mate, 10-1 Bacchanal, Behrajan (from 12), Florida Pearl, Sackville, Shooting Light, 12-1 Lord Noelie, Marlborough, 14-1 Rince Ri (from 33), 20-1 Alexander Banquet, Foxchapel King, What`s Up Boys, 25-1 Cyfor Malta, Legal Right, Shotgun Willy, 40-1 bar.

Coral: 5-1 Looks Like Trouble, 6-1 Best Mate, 8-1 Bacchanal, 9-1 Lord Noelie, 10-1, Shooting Light, Sackville, 12-1 Florida Pearl, Behrajan, 14-1 Marlborough, 16-1, Rince Ri, What`s Up Boys, 20-1 bar.

Tote: 5-1 Looks Like Trouble, 11-2 Best Mate, 8-1 Bacchanal, Sackville, 9-1 Shooting Light, 10-1 Behrajan, Florida Pearl, 12-1 Lord Noelie, 14-1 Marlborough, Rince Ri, 16-1 Alexander Banquet, 20-1 Cyfor Malta, What`s Up Boys.

He was a hot favourite for the 2001 Cheltenham Gold Cup before the intervention of foot and mouth but went on to make amends by recording an impressive victory in the Martell Cup at Aintree.

Doumen has been targeting this year`s renewal of the Cheltenham showpiece for his stable star despite a disappointing performance in the King George on St. Stephen`s Day.

He finished a long way behind winner Florida Pearl but was due to renew rivalry with Willie Mullins` charge at Leopardstown a week on Sunday.

First Gold also held a precautionary entry for the Martell Grand National but Doumen revealed his injury has worsened and he is not expected to appear this season.