Taranis will not run in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup or the John Smith’s Grand National.

The 2007 Ryanair Chase winner had made a triumphant return from over two years on the sidelines with a leg injury when landing the Argento Chase at Cheltenham in January.

Owner Angela Yeoman said: “It is not a leg problem, which is a relief, but something is the matter with him.

“We are not quite sure what the problem is yet, but I don’t want to run him if he’s not right.

“I knew there was a little problem on Tuesday night but I’ve not spoken to Paul today.”

Trainer Emma Lavelle felt the ex-Irish eight-year-old could not act in the testing conditions as he trailed in eighth of the nine finishers behind Razor Royale.

As a result, Lavelle has scratched Kilcrea Castle from the William Trophy at Cheltenham and the John Smith’s Grand National.

He could though return for a late spring campaign with the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown a possible objective.

“He’s absolutely fine after yesterday but he struggles going that pace the whole way on very soft ground,” said the Andover handler.

“Jack Doyle said he thought he could hear his wind affecting him as well so he could never get into a rhythm accordingly.

“On the back of that, having talked to the owners we are not going to the National this year and will hopefully go there next year. We will have a look at some of the other big prizes around before the end of the season.

“We’ve also taken him out of the William Hill at Cheltenham as it will come up a bit quick for him.

“I know he’s got form on soft ground in Ireland but their style of racing over there is different to ours. They don’t start racing until very later on in the race.

“It wasn’t a nice experience for him so we’ll try to find a nice race for him before the end of the season and look to the National next year as a main target.

“There’s nothing set in stone yet but I’ll sit down and discuss it with the owners. One thing that might get thrown into the ring could be the old Whitbread at Sandown.”

The 2008 Scottish National winner was a fine fifth over hurdles at Wetherby earlier this month on his first start in almost two years and Curran is hoping he will make the cut for the Grand National at Aintree in April.

“The plan is for him to go to Newcastle,” said Curran. “I was very pleased with his run at Wetherby. He actually jumped into the race at two out, but was then maybe just a bit ring-rusty at the end.

“He’s come on leaps and bounds since then, so hopefully he’ll run well at the weekend. His better performances have come on better ground, but he’s run well enough on soft before. He’ll then head straight to Aintree if he gets in.

“It’s such a tight race this year so it’s hard to know whether he’ll get in or not, but we’ll give him entries in the Scottish National again and the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown as a precaution.”

“We’ve been playing over hurdles because I didn’t want him to go up any more in the handicap as we’re aiming at Aintree. The ground on Saturday is a major worry for me and basically if it’s soft ground, he won’t run.I’m very keen to run him if it’s possible because it would fit in with my general plan of trying to run him in the National.If we don’t run on Saturday it becomes about as clear as mud.He could run the following week in the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster but if he didn’t go there for whatever reason, that might change our entire plan all together.We might easily end up running in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and if we went there we probably wouldn’t run in the National as I think it’s a bit unfair to run him over hurdles three times and then ask him to go round Aintree.”

Our Vic continued his fine form this season when finishing second under the steadier of 11st 12lb to Silver By Nature in the Blue Square Gold Cup at Haydock on Saturday.

“He’s fine and was out in the field on Sunday,” Pipe went on.

“It was a great performance under top weight for a 12-year-old. Monet’s Garden put up a great performance at Ascot and Our Vic’s at Haydock was just behind.

“It’s been amazing for the old horses, the old boys are the best boys.

“Our Vic will go to Cheltenham next I imagine, but I’m not sure what for at the present moment. We’ll have him in a few races there.”

Comply Or Die has done the Nicholashayne handler proud in the National finishing first and second in the last two runnings of the world’s most famous steeplechase.

Pipe would not be worried if the 11-year-old did not have another race before April 10.

He has only had the one run since chasing home Mon Mome last April and that was at Cheltenham over hurdles in November.

“He may have one run before the National or he may go straight there,” Pipe added.

“He’s got a couple of options, not very much, but it wouldn’t be a concern if he went straight to the National.”

Philip Hobbs still intends to send Dream Alliance to Aintree despite the Welsh National winner disappointing at Haydock when he was well beaten and pulled up before the 16th fence.

“He seems fine but he can a bit in and out sometimes which was the problem yesterday,” said the Minehead trainer.

“All being well he’ll still run in the National and he’ll go straight there.”

Nick Williams is keeping his fingers crossed Maljimar makes the cut for this year’s Aintree spectacular having missed out when first reserve last year.

The 10-year-old was third over the cross-country fences at Cheltenham in December and now heads straight for Liverpool on April 10.

“He ran a cracker at the Cheltenham Festival last year (second in William Hill Trophy) but because of that race he didn’t run very well at Aintree at the Grand National meeting,” Williams told At The Races.

“That is why we’re avoiding Cheltenham this year and it’s full steam ahead to Aintree.

“He’s been off since December but that’s not going to matter to him as he’s a good horse fresh and that will be to his advantage.

“He’s 61st in the list and I’m told that he’s guaranteed to get in, but I’m not sure where the cut is going to come this year.

“It would be frustrating if he missed it for the second year running and he only missed it by one last year.”

Dessie Hughes said Siegemaster would not run as he is “feeling the effects” of his run on Saturday, while Louping D’Ainay was said to be an unlikely runner by his trainer, François Cottin.

SILVER BIRCH TO TAKE ROUTE AS LAST YEAR – CROSS-COUNTRY CHASE AT CHELTENHAM, AND THEN HOPEFULLY GRAND NATIONAL, AND THEN LA TOUCHE CUP. (But will he be balloted out?)

Abbeybraney definite.

Le Beau Bai depends. (I think, going off memory.)