Best Mate's bid to claim a historic fourth straight Cheltenham Gold Cup win is over after the horse was withdrawn from this year's race. Trainer Henrietta Knight told BBC Five Live: "He was having his final gallop and he broke a blood vessel. Everybody is shattered - it's the end of a dream.
"It's serious enough that this season is over but hopefully he'll be back as good as new next season."
The news leaves Kingscliff as the new favourite for the race on 18 March.
Kingscliff was 7/2 with Ladbrokes on Thursday ahead of Strong Flow (9/2) and Beef or Salmon (5/1).
Later on Thursday, trainer Tom Taaffe announced that Kicking King would be confirmed as a Gold Cup runner on Saturday after recovering from illness.
Best Mate, stabled in Oxfordshire, had only just returned to full fitness after a virus, which was blamed for his surprising defeat to Beef or Salmon in Ireland earlier this season.
Owner Jim Lewis told BBC Hereford and Worcester that the virus was likely to have caused his latest problem.
"I had a phone call from Henrietta to say that he started to bleed down the nose," said Lewis.
"Usually that's indicative of a bug. He had one at Christmas and it looks as though he hasn't fully recovered from it.
"I suppose it's fortunate that it's not going to happen in the actual race, because then the damage could be quite serious.
"He'll be back next year I promise you and whoever wins the Gold Cup I shall wish them all the very best and tell them that they've only borrowed it."
Bookmakers all agreed that Best Mate's withdrawal was devastating for the sport.
Ladbrokes spokesman Balthazar Fabricius said: "We estimate that across the industry Best Mate's enforced absence has cost punters �500,000.
"It's a savage blow for connections, racing fans, punters and bookmakers alike."
Totesport's Damian Walker added: "This is the worst possible news for punters and jump race fans alike.
"While a win for Best Mate would have cost the industry millions, bookmakers still wanted to see him line-up to attempt a historic fourth Gold Cup win."
Best Mate became the first horse since Arkle in the 1960s to take three Gold Cups when he was successful at the Festival last year.
He beat Sir Rembrandt by half a length in a thrilling finish to the blue riband event and they would have faced a rematch at Prestbury Park this year.
Best Mate had only run twice this season, kicking off with a win at Exeter in November before losing to Beef or Salmon in Ireland.
MMIX
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He'll be back next year I promise you
Cheltenham chief
