ALAN King's Barbury Castle stable has been left saddened by the news Invictus has badly broken down for a second time.

The seven-year-old had been off the track for 21 months after suffering an injury when beating subsequent RSA Chase and Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth in the Reynoldstown Chase in February 2012.

Nursed back to full health by the Barbury Castle team, he was strongly fancied for the Hennessy Gold Cup on Saturday, for which he looked favourably handicapped, and ran a big race until a lack of a recent run told and he faded in the home straight.

However, Invictus finished the race slightly lame and it has since transpired the injury is much worse than first feared.

''He's broken down again in the Hennessy,'' said King.

''It's the same leg but a different place and it's not looking good.

''It's a great shame. He'd run a huge race in the circumstances and now this happens.

''The owners had shown so much patience and my staff had worked ever so hard in getting back to fitness.

''It's all very sad.''

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