3,000 owners of Cheltenham Festival winner Pentland Hills told he has leg injury

Trained by Nicky Henderson at Seven Barrows, Pentland Hills won the 2019 JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, but disappointed at this year's event

The 3,000-strong group of owners who have a share in 2019 Cheltenham Festival winner Pentland Hills have been told he will miss next season.

Ninth in this year's Unibet Champion Hurdle behind stablemate Epatante, the five-year-old was found to have a leg injury before being turned out for his summer break.

Owners Group told members of the syndicate this week that the issue would rule him out for a significant period of time.

The news came as a blow to trainer Nicky Henderson, whose team did not see him back up the promise of his juvenile campaign.

The dual Grade One winner was beaten in three runs last term after finishing his first season over hurdles unbeaten.

"The vet scanned his legs and found a small amount of damage on the right fore tendon," Owners Group racing manager Dan Downie said.

"I imagine it would have been a throwback to when he was in fast work and he probably had carried it for a while.

"Last season didn't really get going. It can be hard for horses after their juvenile campaign in races like the Champion Hurdle.

"The injury is a shame. A lot of horses need a year off.

"We were probably going to prepare him for another season over hurdles."

Pentland Hills will be joined on the sidelines by Farouk De Cheneau, who also has a leg problem.

The French recruit disappointed in his one start over hurdles for Seven Barrows, the day after the 2020 Cheltenham Festival finished.

Owners Group have around 15 horses to race on the Flat in the coming weeks, including the Roger Charlton-trained Tambourine Girl.

A three-year-old sprinter by Cable Bay, she won a Kempton maiden on her third start in October.