Jan Brueghel, the 7-4 favourite for the QIPCO Long Distance Cup at Ascot on Saturday, will not run after suffering a leg infection. The setback weakens Aidan O'Brien's push for the British trainers' championship, which he is contesting with Andrew Balding.
O'Brien, who is seeking a hat-trick of championships in Britain and a ninth overall, also confirmed his challenge will end at Doncaster on Saturday week rather than run to the end of the year. Jan Brueghel had been the shortest Ballydoyle contender among the five Group 1 races on the British Champions Day card at the start of trading.
Infection rules out favourite
O'Brien, who also has Scandinavia – the five-time Group 1 winner has an “outside chance” of taking part – and Queenstown in the £500,000 two-mile test, said: “Jan Brueghel won't run.
“We were preparing him for it and he just had a setback, so he won't be there. He got an infection in his joint - it got badly infected in two hours but hopefully he will be back for next year.”
Other Ascot runners and title race
O'Brien is set to run Minnie Hauk and Amelia Earhart in Ascot's Fillies & Mares Stakes, with Constitution River and Gstaad holding entries – “we haven't decided which way yet” – in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and Champion Stakes.
While the championship runs until 31 December, O'Brien will not send runners to Britain after he bids for a record-extending 13th success in the Group 1 William Hill Futurity Trophy at Doncaster in 12 days' time. “We do what we think is the right thing by the horses,” he added. “Our next two goes in England will be Ascot next weekend and then the following weekend.
“And then that's us finished after that - that's the way it usually is.”
Odds and recent form
O'Brien's title bid was boosted when he won Saturday's Dewhurst Stakes with Darkness Falls. He is 4-6 favourite with Paddy Power to win the trainers' title with Balding at 11-10.
Latest odds for British Champions Long Distance Cup, Paddy Power: 2 Caballo De Mar, Scandinavia, 7-2 Highwayman, 5 Gregory, 7 Fairy Glen, Queenstown, 8 Amiloc, Mount Atlas, Opportunity, 14 Daiquiri Bay, 25 bar.
