DOUBLE ECLIPSE was yesterday withdrawn from the Bonusprint Henry II Stakes at Sandown and will head straight for the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.
Mark Johnston is not prepared to risk the horse, unraced since he suffered a tendon injury last summer, in today's Group Two contest.
"He is not any worse this morning and I could have declared him as he is sound and fit to run but the fear is that he could break down at any time," the trainer explained.
"Any horse with a tendon injury can break down and if it happened in the Henry II Stakes he would have to miss the Gold Cup so we are not going to take the risk."
The five-year-old is now set to have his first run for 13 months at Royal Ascot, where he is set for a clash with elder brother Double Trigger first and second in the last two runnings of the Gold Cup.
"Double Eclipse won first time out last year, although that was not the same class of race as the Gold Cup," Johnston said.
"He is working very well and is an extremely good horse so he shouldn't be ignored.
"Touch wood both he and Double Trigger will run in the Gold Cup and it will be a very hard decision for Jason Weaver as to which to ride."
The two horses have clashed only once previously on the racecourse, when Double Trigger beat his younger brother by a neck in the Goodwood Cup in 1995.
