“He is out for the season with a slight tendon strain on his near fore. It’s a bad blow just when we thought we had him right and ready for Leopardstown,” said a devastated Mullins.

“He worked brilliantly on Wednesday morning but had a little cut on his heel and we didn’t think anything of it at the time.

“He wasn’t even sore yesterday morning but we noticed it seemed to be bothering him last evening and the vet confirmed our worse fears.”

Davenport Milenium, who made a promising reappearance in the Pertemps Christmas Hurdle at Kempton when third to Intersky Falcon following a highly-successful last campaign was 8-1 with William Hill for the Champion.

The Co Carlow trainer was speaking after saddling Mossy Green to win the opening Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle at Naas.

The nine-year-old is owned by the Greenstar Syndicate, who are also responsible for the talented young chaser Adamant Approach.

Mullins added that Adamant Approach would have a prep run in the next few weeks before going for the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham.