Derby hero heading for Royal Ascot

ADAYAR will miss his intended return to action in the Coronation Cup and instead now head to Royal Ascot.

Last year’s Derby and King George hero, below, had been due to have his first start since finishing fifth in the Champion Stakes at Ascot last October in the 12-furlong Group One on June 3.

However, trainer Charlie Appleby reports the Frankel colt to have suffered a minor setback and will now work towards the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, over Ascot’s ten furlongs on June 15.

He said: “Adayar, who was an intended runner (at Epsom), met with a minor setback in the respect that he was coughing for a few days, so I just eased off him for a week.

“I think we’re probably going to be giving the Coronation Cup a miss as just fitness-wise I won’t quite have him ready in time.

“Adayar is most likely to be heading towards the Prince of Wales’s Stakes for the first start of his four-year-old career.”

While Adayar will not line up at Epsom, Manobo will step into his place in the Coronation Cup.

Another four-year-old, Manobo made impressive strides last term, graduating from a Newbury maiden win in May to lift the Group Two Prix Chaudenay at ParisLongchamp on Arc weekend.

Manobo ended the campaign unbeaten in four starts and made it five on the bounce when winning a Meydan Group Three on his return in February before suffering the first defeat of his career when half a length behind Stay Foolish in Dubai in March.

He will be dropping back in trip, but Appleby is eager to try 12 furlongs. He added: “Preparation has gone very well.”