Gordon Elliott’s Death Duty will miss the rest of the season through injury

DEATH DUTY has joined Thistlecrack on the sidelines as it was announced he will miss the rest of the season.

Gordon Elliott’s seven-year-old was last seen falling at Leopardstown over Christmas and connections have discovered an injury to his hind joint which rules him out of the Cheltenham Festival and the rest of the season.

Sportsfile

The news comes the same day as it was announced Thistlecrack has been ruled out of the Festival.

“Unfortunately he’ll be out for the season,” Racing manager Eddie O’Leary told Press Association Sport.

“I’d say it probably happened earlier than the fall because it is a problem with a hind joint.

“Hopefully he’ll be back next season.”

Death Duty had been prominent in the Cheltenham Festival betting for both the RSA Novices’ Chase and the JLT Novices’ Chase.