It has recently emerged that Gavin Cromwell's stable star Espoir D'Allen, who landed the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival back in March, could be out for the whole upcoming national hunt season.
The JP McManus star had only been back from his summer break a week when an accident at home has left the 15th length winner of the Cheltenham Grade 1"very lame and sore"
according to the Racing Post Cromwell has explained that the problem occurred in his off-front shoulder but the team of vets working on the horse have not officially found the overall problem.
(Credit Racing Post) Cromwell said: "Last Thursday he had done a little canter and coming back in off the gallop he got spooked, reared up and fell over.
"He is in Fethard Equine Hospital and we still haven't found what's wrong with him, but it looks like he is going to be out for the season.
"He got a slap off the ground and the issue seems to be around his shoulder, but they are still trying to pin it down.
"He is very lame and sore on his right front side and he hasn't improved since he went down there. They are still doing tests on him to try and find the problem and the vets don't seem very optimistic of him making a speedy recovery.
"It’s a massive blow for everybody in the yard.”
Espoir D'Allen was already as short as 3/1 to become one of very few horses to retain the Champion Hurdle but now Willie Mullins Klassical Dream has flew to the top of the market as the new 7/2 favourite.