Setback rules leading fancy Arabian Crown out of Derby

Leading Betfred Derby contender Arabian Crown has been ruled out of the Epsom Classic after suffering a setback.

Winner of three of his four starts as a juvenile including victory in the Group Three Zetland Stakes at Newmarket, the Dubawi colt moved towards the head of the Derby betting following an impressive return in the Sandown Classic Trial last month.

With most of the Derby trials having now taken place, Arabian Crown was clear second-favourite behind Aidan O’Brien’s City Of Troy, but connections have announced he will not line up on June 1.

In a short statement posted on X, Godolphin said: “Unfortunately Arabian Crown will miss the @EpsomRacecourse Derby due to a setback. He will now be aimed at a late summer campaign.”

Arabian Crown’s absence is another significant blow to Godolphin and Charlie Appleby after Hidden Law suffered a fatal injury shortly after passing the post a runaway winner of last week’s Chester Vase.

Appleby’s only remaining Derby contender is Ancient Wisdom, who finished second behind the William Haggas-trained Economics in the Dante Stakes at York on Thursday.

Speaking at York on Friday afternoon, Appleby’s assistant Alex Merriam said: “It was a bit sad this morning but hopefully it’s only a fairly minor injury. Hopefully we’ll still have a horse for the late summer, even mid summer, Charlie discussed it with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and thought there was no point in rushing him for the Derby.

“We’ll still have a nice horse for the rest of the summer and years to come.”

Of Ancient Wisdom, he added: “I thought he ran a nice race, he’ll improve a good bit for the run. Whether he goes there (Epsom) or not is something to be discussed with His Highness, but it looks an open Derby and I think he’s got every reason to go there. We’ll see how he comes out of the race.”