Noel Chance fears losing his Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Looks Like Trouble for at least a year following the discovery of a tendon injury.

The shock news came after the Noel Chance-trained gelding produced a superb reappearance performance in winning the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase by 15 lengths under Richard Johnson at Down Royal on Saturday.

"It's going to be a year at least I would imagine. What we have to find out now is if there's a hole in the tendon," Chance said yesterday. "If there is we are facing at least a year, which is not good for us because it's a year from November, so you can't bring him back in November next year and expect to have him ready for the Gold Cup in March or indeed any other race."

"The only race prior to March are the ones in February and at the end of January and you just wouldn't make it. So if there is a hole in the tendon we could be talking of him reappearing in two years rather than one.

"This is the second time it's happened to me, don't forget. It happened to my other Gold Cup winner, Mr Mulligan. We just have to soldier on."

Chance discovered the injury after the eight-year-old returned to his Lambourn base.

"When I took the bandages off him after he had travelled home from Down Royal I noticed he had an inflamed tendon in his near fore," he said.

"This would have been all right and easy to deal with as he wasn't cut but the injury could be something more serious and I don't like the look of it.

"I'm making this announcement because I want to warn people not to back him at this stage. It's very unfortunate."

Looks Like Trouble was as short as 5 to 2 favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup afterwards Saturday's superb success.

"For the first time the horse got the critical acclaim he deserved," said Chance.

He had hoped to run the eight-year-old in the King George VI Chase at Kempton but plans are now on hold.

"He will be a scanned on Friday and I want punters to hold fire until then.

"I just want to people to know that it's 60-40 the scan going the wrong way."

Bookmakers hastily revised their odds for the Cheltenham Gold Cup following the news of the injury to Looks Like Trouble, with See More Business being now favourite generally at 7 to 2.