As the headline over Alastair Down's wonderful piece in the Racing Post puts it:

Don't be sad
Celebrate

By the way, the Paddy Power Chase on Saturday was hugely encouraging for Major Miller. A horse trained by Jonjo O'Neill, Butler's Cabin, finished fourth. Major Miller ran against the same horse in a novice hurdle on Boxing Day last year and beat him by 3 lengths. Major Miller finished second (he should have won quite cosily but the jockey messed up big time) and Butler's Cabin third.

Major Miller is out until this time next year, but the level of his form in the four novice races he has run - in which he finished 5th, 1st, 2nd, 4th - has turned out to be top class. He'll still only be 6 when he comes back, and has grown into a tremendous chaser's physique, so it may be a year's wait, but it'll be one laced with great anticipation.