Ante-post backers of Al Riffa have been dealt a blow as the Irish 2,000 Guineas favourite will not run.
Joseph O'Brien's Group One National Stakes titleholder has encountered a hold-up while training for Saturday's race. Bookies priced him at 5-2 to give the trainer, whose father Aidan has a record 11 renewals on his CV, his first victory in it.
Joseph said he will make a new plan for his Wootton Bassett colt – and next month's meeting at Royal Ascot features on the list.
“He has just had a little setback training," he said. "Hopefully it is nothing too serious and he will be back later in the summer.
“These things happen, so it’s a long way from a problem. It is obviously disappointing for the owners. This race has been his target for the last while, but we will look forward to things later in the summer.
"He has options at Ascot and further afield than that as well."
Paddington, the winner of races at Naas and the Curragh this season, is expected to head Aidan O'Brien's team.
The trainer's key runners in the English 2,000 Guineas, Auguste Rodin and Little Big Bear, performed below their best.
The pair did not have a smooth passage in the event, won by Frankie Dettori's mount Chaldean – who is expected to skip the weekend race and go straight to Royal Ascot.
O'Brien reports Auguste Rodin to be on course for the Betfred Derby at Epsom on June 3.
“All the signs are very good with him since so we just put a line through it and look forward on to the Derby because that was always the plan," he said.
