Racing:St Nicholas Abbey has suffered a setback and will not run in the Investec Derby at Epsom on Saturday. Last year's brilliant Racing Post Trophy winner was on Tuesday morning found to have suffered a slight muscle injury in a hind quarter.
Aidan O'Brien's colt was the long-time ante-post favourite for the premier Classic, but failed to impress jockey Johnny Murtagh in a work-out last Friday, after which he was deposed as market leader by stablemate Jan Vermeer.
O'Brien told www.coolmore.com: "St Nicholas Abbey was due to work first thing this morning, however when he came out of his box we noticed he was stiff behind.
"He had looked slightly stiff yesterday evening. His work on Friday last was a little lacklustre for him and that was the first time we had seen anything different, but he was fine afterwards.
"He was immediately examined and scanned by our vets this morning.
"They found a slight muscle injury high up in his hind quarter. This meant he could not work today and we were advised to give him an easy few days.
"Obviously this will preclude him from running in the Investec Derby on Saturday.
"We always thought St Nicholas Abbey could walk on water and it is very unfortunate for all concerned to have a setback like this so close to the big race."
St Nicholas Abbey's brilliant Racing Post Trophy win last season extended his unbeaten juvenile record to three.
He returned to the track last month in the Newmarket 2000 Guineas, in which he finished a satisfactory sixth behind Makfi.
O'Brien still holds a strong hand at Epsom, however, with new favourite Jan Vermeer the subject of a sustained gamble over the last few days.
The impressive Gallinule Stakes scorer could be joined in the final line-up by stablemates Midas Touch, Cape Blanco, At First Sight and Bright Horizon.