EPSOM DERBY hero Desert Crown is a huge doubt for the King George at Ascot – with punters running scared after the colt was a big drifter in the market.
Sir Michael Stoute’s stable star was odds-on for the 1m4f Group 1 on July 23.
Desert Crown remains a doubt for the King George at Ascot
But he is out to 3.6 on the Betfair Exchange and a general 7-4 shot with most bookies.
A rematch with subsequent Irish Derby winner Westover remains on the cards for now – after the Ralph Beckett-trained runner was made the new favourite.
But Bruce Raymond, racing manager to Desert Crown’s owner Saeed Suhail, confirmed the unbeaten star had suffered a setback.
He said: “It’s in the foot, it’s not a joint and it’s not a tendon, so hopefully it’s not too bad.
“I think if it were a lesser horse we’d just leave him in the box, but because of who he is they’re being extra cautious and will check him tomorrow and scan the foot.
“In my opinion he’s fit enough to be able to miss a few days.
“I don’t know what Michael [Stoute] thinks about it but he’s a very fit horse, although he wouldn’t want to miss too much and he wants to be working on Saturday, that’s for sure.
“Michael will make a decision on Saturday.
“I was alarmed because I thought, ‘can he miss this amount of work?’, but I don’t think Michael is too worried about fitness levels – he’s more worried about what’s going on in the foot.
“If he works on Saturday, then everything is OK.”
Coral-Eclipse runner-up Mishriff is third favourite in the market ahead of an expected tilt at the Juddmonte.
While shock 80-1 Arc de Triomphe winner Torquator Tasso was shortened to 6-1 with Paddy Power.
