ENABLE’S RETURN HELD OFF DUE TO INJURY
A KNEE problem has scuppered the imminent return to action of Enable and will keep last season’s Arc winner on the sidelines at least until August. A clash between the Khaled Abdullah-owned filly, who won five group one races in 2017, and her John Gosden-trained stablemate Cracksman has been one of the most anticipated features of the Flat season. But the first chance of that happening in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July is now off. With the precise nature of Enable’s knee issue as yet not clear, there will also be concern about her being able to make the second of her potential clashes with Cracksman when she defends her Arc crown at Longchamp in October. A run in August at York has been pencilled in for a filly who was due to return in the Coronation Cup at Epsom’s Derby meeting next month. Lord Grimthorpe, racing manager to Khaled Abdullah, said: ‘Enable has met with a setback in training. She has some filling in her knee which is being fully investigated. ‘The advice that we have is, that given reasonable circumstances, she should be ready to run in August as a preparation for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.’ The news prompted Ladbrokes’ Arc odds for Cracksman, who made a winning comeback in the Prix Ganay, to be cut to 11-4.
TRAINER Richard Hannon is considering the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Royal Ascot’s Coronation Stakes as the next race for his shock 66-1 1,000 Guineas winner Billesdon Brook.