Next Destination will miss the remainder of the season after meeting with a setback.
The Willie Mullins trained in-mate had been one of the key ante-post horse racing tips of of the winter after picking up a Grade 1 success as a novice hurdler last season but connections are now going to be forced to wait.
The hugely talented six-year-old had been taking a high order in the market for the RSA Chase in recent weeks but his chasing career will now not start until the autumn at the earliest according to Mullins.
Next Destination has had a setback and while it isn't a serious problem we've decided to treat him and leave him alone until next season when he will go chasing."
The news is certainly a blow for the Closutton handler but the horse remains young enough to bounce back, especially with the injury described as a minor one.
Next Destination impressed over hurdles with a win at the highest level in the Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle last January the clear highlight of his career to date. The horse was also a fast finishing 3rd behind Samcro and Black Op in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival which lead to many believing he was a top class staying chaser of the future.
The ante-post RSA Chase market has an open feel about it with Santini, Delta Work and Topofthegame among the leading fancies at the current stage with the Festival little more than two months away.
Still only six which is a positive.
