Mouse Morris’ Gentlemansgame has been forced to miss his next target in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown after sustaining a minor foot injury.

The Mouse Morris-trained seven-year-old relished the step up to three miles for the first time over fences when beating Bravemansgame in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby in November.

Paul Nicholls' charge looks set to defend his King George crown at Kempton on Boxing Day, whilst his Wetherby conqueror had been set to stay closer to home over Christmas by taking in the Chase at Leopardstown.

However, the Robcour-owned son of Gentlewave has sustained a minor foot injury and will now likely be aimed at either the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham or the Dublin Racing Festival.

"He's just got a small issue with a foot, it's nothing I'm concerned about but it's the timing of it that is a pain," said Morris.

"It's not serious, it's just a total pain, so we'll look at Cheltenham now or the Dublin Racing Festival, something like that.

"Unfortunately, it's been the case with him he's had niggly issues that have kept him off the track but at least this is not one of his old problems, it's just one of them things."