St Nicholas Abbey will not run in Saturday's Investec Derby at Epsom. He was ruled out of the Classic this morning by trainer Aidan O'Brien, who reported seeing the colt "stiff behind" when he came out of his box to work
By HOTSPUR (J A McGrath)
The colt had been as short as 2-1 favourite for the Derby following his emphatic win in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster last October. But he had drifted to 9-2 on Monday night, and could be backed on the Betfair exchange at 10-1 as confidence in the colt evaporated.
On the morning of the 2,000 Guineas last month, in which he finished a one-paced sixth, St Nicholas Abbey had been quoted at only 6-1 to win racing's Triple Crown -- the Guineas, Derby and St Leger.
He was officially top-rated juvenile, and went into winter quarters one of the most talked-about two-year-olds in recent decades. There were immediate comparisons with Sea The Stars, the all-conquering champion, who won six consecutive Group One races last year.
