Nicky Richards’ useful staying handicap chaser Skippers Brig has almost certainly been ruled out of action for the rest of the season after sustaining an injury in the course of his very promising seasonal debut at Kelso at the weekend, writes Elliot Slater.

Generally on offer at 33/1 in the ante-post list for the 2012 John Smith’s Grand National, the 10-year-old did little wrong at Kelso in finishing a brave second to the progressive Always Right in the Monteith Memorial Champion Handicap Chase, suggesting there was better to come as he built up towards another tilt at the world’s greatest steeplechase, an event in which he finished a creditable 9th behind Ballabriggs in this year’s renewal. The ante-post Grand National betting suggested he would be in with a shout this year.

On the strength of his seasonal reappearance run Richards had been keen to send the gelded son of Zaffaran to Ireland over the Christmas period to take his chance in the Grade 1 Lexus Chase, but now all plans are on hold for the horse who has been notoriously difficult to train having had a series of leg problems over the years both with Richards and with his previous trainer Lennie Lungo.

In all Skippers Brig has won nine of his 19 outings and last season proved himself as good as ever, finishing in mid-division in Leopardstown’s Paddy Power Chase after a year off the track before winning a Pertemps Hurdle Handicap qualifier at Haydock in game fashion under 11st 11lbs. He followed up over fences back at Kelso causing a shock when lowering the colours of hot favourite Ballabriggs, a performance that won him plenty of admirers and saw him head to Aintree as a genuine candidate for honours. He raced prominently in the big race itself, being right of the heels of the leaders until hampered by a faller at the fourth last, after which he eventually faded to finish out of the money.