On his first outing in the SGB Hire Shop Hurdle at Ascot in December, he appeared to be travelling well but dropped suddenly out of contention to finish unplaced behind Grand Canyon.
The Timeform organisation went on record as stating that his affliction to break blood vessels looked likely to hinder his career, adding that after he had won the Panama Cigar Hurdle Final during the previous season, he was in their opinion the most promising novice since Bula.
He opened up his campaign by making all the running to beat Fred Winter's highly touted Snow Flyer over two and a half miles at Ascot in October.
He disappointed in finishing unplaced behind his stable companion Uncle Bing, but made a mistake at the third last and had his chance further compromised when hampered by a faller at the next fence.
In January, Border Incident lined up for the prestigious Embassy Premier Chase Final, run over two and a half miles at Haydock Park.
With Ron Barry taking over in the saddle, Border Incident faced eight opponents which included the promising Irish trained runners Bunker Hill and Tied Cottage, future Grand National winner Lucius, Master H and Zongalero.
Border Incident was quoted as short as 6/1 in the Cheltenham Gold Cup ante-post betting after Wincanton but suffered a bout of sore shins and did not appear again.
The outcome of the race may have been changed when the former top class hurdler Dramatist, who started the odds on favourite, fell when challenging for the lead at the final fence.
He reappeared in the three runner Edward Hanmer Memorial Chase at Haydock Park, looking to face a stiff task against Silver Buck and Night Nurse .
Border Incident began to struggle in the home straight and eventually finished third, twenty lengths behind Silver Buck and Jack Of Trumps, giving the impression that he may not have stayed the three mile trip in a fast run race.
With John Francome in the saddle, he made all the running to beat Cavity Hunter and the former King George V1 Chase winner, Bachelor's Hall.
This was intended to be Border Incident's warm up race for the Cheltenham Gold Cup but after looking to be travelling strongly, he dropped away quickly and was pulled up by John Francome before the fourth last.
John Sharratt, reporting for Raceform, wrote, ' Border Incident was turned out looking a picture and given a peach of a ride by Francome, ran remarkably well and, bar one minor error, jumped as if he had never been off the racecourse.'
Run over a distance of three miles, the field included the top class Night Nurse, and the rapidly progressing future Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Bregawn.
Starting the 5/1 third favourite, Border Incident began to drop out of contention a long way from the finish and was pulled up by John Francome before the final fence, the race being won by Bregawn.
Dropping back to a distance of two miles and with Peter Scudamore in the saddle for the first time, Border Incident was not troubled to beat inferior opposition easily.