Sean Curran’s Hatford stables, near Stanford-in-the-Vale, have suffered a major blow with Scottish Grand National hero Iris De Balme facing at least a year on the sidelines after suffering a tendon injury, writes Russell Smith.

The eight-year-old spr- ung a 66-1 shock at Ayr in April, but showed it to be no fluke when going on to finish a close-up fourth in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown just a week later.

Curran was eyeing top prizes such as the Hennessy Gold Cup and the Aintree Grand National for his stable star this season.

"The vet came to look at Iris De Balme and found that there were shadows on his tendons and he thinks it was something he picked up from his races last season," said Curran.

"We had been looking at the Hennessy, but all plans are on hold now and I would say he is out for a year at least.

"It's a bit gutting as we thought he could be a National horse. He's a nine-year-old at the turn of the year, so we will see, but the problem is, it's tenterhooks all the way from now on."

Meanwhile, as the Flat turf season comes to an end, Precision Break notched up win No 6 of the campaign for Paul Cole’s Whatcombe stables, near Wantage.

The three-year-old son of Silver Deputy’s latest success came at Great Leighs last Thursday when he romped home by six lengths under Neil Callan in a handicap over an extended mile and five furlongs.

Precision Break’s win at Great Leighs sparked a double for Cole and Callan, who also struck with Charlotte Point.

The two-year-old daughter of Distorted Honour made the most of her previous experience to power home two and a half lengths clear of Catamarca in a mile maiden.

Cole also sent out Aboukir to make a winning debut on the Southwell sands.

The two-year-old son of Almutawakel set jockey Jamie Spencer on the way to a treble with a game half-length victory from Petsas Pleasure in a mile median auction maiden stakes.

Harlech Castle has also hit a rich vein of form for the Whatcombe yard and he followed up his recent Nottingham win with victory at Catterick.

Back over the jumps, Mark Rimell sent out Ours from his Leafield stables, near Witney, to follow up his recent Southwell win with victory at Huntingdon.

The six-year-old, ridden by Noel Fehily, battled well under top weight on the rain-softened ground to beat Mattaking by three-quarters of a length in a handicap chase.

Merchant Red provided Paul Webber’s Cropredy yard, near Banbury, with a welcome winner when springing a 20-1 surprise at Wetherby.

The five-year-old jumped well for Dominic Elsworth in a two-mile beginners’ chase to beat Lease Lend by two lengths.

Carruthers, the highly-regarded youngster from Mark Bradstock’s Letcombe Bassett stables, near Wantage, met with defeat on his chasing debut at Uttoxeter.

The five-year-old showed plenty of promise though in going down by two lengths in a three miles beginners’ chase to the Paul Nicholls-trained What A Friend, who is jointly-owned by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.