FERDY Murphy's preparations for the new jumps season have suffered a major blow after one of his stable stars, Poker De Sivola, was ruled out of the whole of the campaign.
The eight-year-old, who was successful at the 2010 Cheltenham Festival in the National Hunt Chase, suffered an injury when he produced a storming finish to claim Sandown's Bet365 Gold Cup on the final day of last season.
Murphy, who trains at West Witton, had been hoping to aim Poker De Sivola at next year's Grand National, but will instead adopt a safety-first approach.
"Horses who win either the Scottish National or the Bet365 Gold Cup often seem to pick up injuries as they go a million miles an hour on fast ground in those two races," said Murphy.
"I've had that problem with Paris Pike and Hot Weld, and now Poker De Sivola is in the same situation.
"We've found that he has a few little niggling injuries and whenever we do anything with him a little heat materialises in his leg.
"I see him being a Grand National horse but we'll look after him and hold fire on that plan until next season."
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