The injury was discovered after War Of Attrition was taken out for a canter at Morris's training base near Fethard, Co Tipperary yesterday morning. "The horse has heat in his leg but he isn't lame or anything, " the 55year-old trainer said. "We had it scanned and he needs to rest. Hopefully he'll be back next season.

"Everything has hit me as I lost my mother last night as well. I've got to get my head around it all myself. I'm devastated."

Morris has been worried about the progress of his stable star for the past month or so and only last week declared himself unhappy with the eight-year-old's prospects for the festival's blue riband. Owner Michael O'Leary had always cautioned anyone who would listen throughout the winter that merely getting the horse to the starting line would represent a massive achievement. His thoughts yesterday, understandably, were with Morris and his family.

"I would like to thank Mouse Morris and his team at Everardsgrange for the great work they have done with War of Attrition during the season and I am desperately sorry that despite all their hard work, he won't be returning to defend the Gold cup this year. We all hope that with sufficient rest and treatment he will return to racing next year.

"We know he couldn't be in better hands than with Mouse and his team. Both Anita and I would like to send our sincere condolences to Mouse whose mum passed away late last night, " he added.