Connections of Cyfor Malta are looking to the future after the news that the six-year-old will miss the remainder of the season with a leg injury.
The Martin Pipe-trained gelding was a 10 to 1 chance in William Hill's list for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup after his victory in the Grade Two Pillar Property Chase at Prestbury.
A rule change allowed six-year-olds to compete in the Martell Grand National this year and Cyfor Malta, who was given 11st 4lb in the Aintree weights unveiled last week, was a 16 to 1 shot for the National with Hill's.
But Cyfor Malta, winner of the Cathcart Chase at Cheltenham and John Hughes Trophy at Aintree last year, has some heat in a front leg after his Pillar Chase success and will not be ready in time for the 1999 fixtures.
The British Horseracing Board (BHB) and the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA) have called on the British government to ease the tax burden on British breeders to help them compete with their counterparts in Ireland.
Irish breeders currently enjoy a tax-free income from the sale of surplus stallion nominations, allowing them capital to reinvest in the acquisition of new stallions.
As a result, it is becoming increasingly likely that new stallions will stand in Ireland rather than England, contends the proposal, submitted jointly by the BHB and the TBA yesterday.
