CARVILL'S HILL, the favourite for the 1992 Cheltenham Gold Cup and one of the most exciting chasers of the last 10 years, has been retired. His trainer Martin Pipe has abandoned efforts to prepare him for an extraordinary comeback because his 14-year-old legs can't take anymore.

Pipe announced the news as Carvill's Hill, twice allotted top weight in the Grand National was given 10st 10lb for this year's running. "That's a super weight. He'd win with that," he reacted. "However, his old legs are playing up and we've decided to retire him.

"He's 14 now but he can't stand the pressure. He's been hunting and in full work but his legs are beginning play up which means he's telling us to stop. We've been training him for hunter chases but he's telling us he can't take it."

Carvill's Hill's controversial defeat in the 1992 Gold Cup, in which he finished demoralised and injured behind Cool Ground was his last racecourse appearance.

The highlights of his career were his two victories in the Irish Hennessy Gold Cup in 1989 and 1992, the first of those for Jim Dreaper, and his run-away win in the 1991 Welsh National.

"Those were great days," Piped added. "He annihilated the opposition in the Welsh National and it was really great to take him to Ireland. I was apprehensive about taking him back to Ireland because he was one of theirs, but we had a great reception. He's got to be one of the best I've trained and the only regrets were the Gold Cup."

Carvill's Hill will remain at Pipe's yard until owner Paul Green decides how the horse will spend his retirement.