Looks Like Trouble is likely to stay with trainer Noel Chance following his retirement due to a recurrence of a tendon injury.
The 2000 Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup hero's career came to an end in the same race at the Festival yesterday when he finished a distant last of the 13 finishers behind Best Mate.
That had been only his third race since he took the blue riband prize of steeplechasing two seasons ago.
He sustained the injury when winning the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Chase at Down Royal in November 2000 and was not seen in public again until winning the John Bull Chase at Wincanton two months ago.
"He's comfortable. He'll be okay, but he'll never race again," said Chance today. "I knew that once he went the slightest bit to the right, I knew that was it. He'll probably spend his retirement with us.
"He owes us absolutely nothing. It was one of those things that can happen to any horse".
Chance reported that the 10-year-old was as well as could be expected. "He's in no pain and the leg is well strapped and well supported so he's perfect in that respect," the Upper Lambourn trainer said.
Looks Like Trouble, who also captured the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham in 1999, won eight of his 16 races and amassed £336,017 sterling in prize money.
PA