FORMER Nunthorpe Stakes champ Alpha Delphini has been ruled out of next Friday’s renewal at York after suffering a setback.
Bryan Smart’s star caused a huge shock in the 2018 thriller at 40-1, but will not be back to regain his crown.
After making his comeback on the Knavesmire last month following 420 days off with a ligament issue, Smart was dealt another setback as his nine-year-old suffered a cut to the back of one of his legs.
It’s a small issue, but enough to force Smart into the tough decision of ruling his pride and joy out.
Smart told Sun Racing: “I would have absolutely loved to have run by boy in the Nunthorpe next week, but we’ve had to sit tight.
“On his comeback run he just had a few cuts at the back of his leg. We’ve got him back in now and he’s fine, but we’ve just missed too much work unfortunately.
“It wouldn’t be fair on him to run him in a race as good as the Nunthorpe if he wasn’t perfect.”
The plan is to now send the son of Captain Gerrard to another race he has already triumphed in.
Smart added: “It’s not the end for him, far from it.
“The Nunthorpe had always been the dream, you saw what that race meant to us all when he won it, but we’ll go to the Beverley Bullet now.
“It’s another track he goes well at and we should have him spot on by then.”
