Trainer Dan Skelton has ruled Shan Blue out until springtime following a fall at Wetherby on Saturday.

The seven-year-old was comfortably leading the pack in the Grade Two Charlie Hall Chase but fell with three hurdles to go, handing the victory to Fusil Raffles.

It was his first run since April after being a Grade One winner last season. 

In December, he was victorious in the prestigious Ladbrokes Novices' Chase at Kempton, winning the three-mile contest by three and three-quarter lengths from The Big Breakaway.

He came second at Aintree in the Betway Chase but was a whopping 32 lengths behind eventual victor Chantry House, who also beat Shan Blue at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Ahead of the Wetherby Grade Two race, he was made big favourite to win but tumbled with only a short distance remaining.

Skelton was hoping he would come away unscathed but further inspection from the vet has revealed a stiffness in his neck.

After discussing with owner Colm Donlon, they have decided to rest their chaser for the next few months in order not to aggravate the problem.

It means he will not race in the Ladbrokes Chase at Newbury or the King George Chase at Kempton Park but Skelton believes they must do the right thing by their charge.

He has targeted a spring return with the Cheltenham Festival and Aintree both on the agenda.

In a video posted on Twitter, Skelton said: "He was obviously going to win the Charlie Hall when he fell. We've given him a full check over and he is a bit stiff in his neck.

"Speaking to the vets and Colm [Donlon], his owner, we've decided we're going to back off for a month completely to get all the soreness out of his neck.

"We'll back off him completely for a month and restart. It does mean that he'll miss the Ladbrokes Trophy and the King George but he's a young horse so we've got to do the right thing by him.

"We'll have him ready for the spring, Cheltenham and Aintree."

Shan Blue is provisionally entered in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham next year as he seeks to build a portfolio of Grade One wins.