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Following 11 months off the track, Clan Des Obeaux will not be making his return at Aintree after Paul Nicholls lost his race against time to get the 11-year-old fit in time for next month's meeting. 

Clan Des Obeaux had been making strides in his rehabilitation from a suspensory injury, but Nicholls  has decided he will not attempt a hat-trick in the Aintree Bowl at the Grand National meeting - race he won in 2021 and 2022 - and will wait until next term with the five-times Grade One winner instead.

The dual King George VI Chase winner, owned by Paul Barber, Ged Mason and Sir Alex Ferguson, was last seen finishing second to Allaho in the Punchestown Gold Cup last April.

Nicholls said: "We have run out of time to get him ready, so we will just have to wait until next season.

"He had a little bit of a suspensory problem and has been doing everything and coming along well.

"He did a strong piece of work last week away and it has just flared up again.

"The warning light is flashing and we've just not had enough time to get him right, so we've had to pull stumps for the season.

"Unfortunately, much as we and everyone has tried to get him ready, we're not going to get there."

King George winner and Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Bravemansgame may head to Aintree, although the 13-times champion trainer admitted there are no guarantees.

He added: "Bravemansgame is not necessarily going. It's still an option, always was.

"All those horses that went to Cheltenham, we are not making any decision until nearer the time.

"We have got plenty of time yet. He is a possible, along with Stage Star and all those. It's not a definite but it's a possible."