Aidan O'Brein yesterday evening poured cold water on suggestions of a sickness problem at Ballydoyle after three horses scheduled to run in France were withdrawn due to negative blood counts.

Castle Gandolfo was an intended starter in yesterday's Group One Grand Prix de Paris, while Maderno and Roar Of The Tiger were also taken out of their respective races.

"We test every horse 24 hours before a race and this time, they were just not 100 per cent. It's nothing," O'Brien said. Asked if there is a sickness problem at the yard, O'Brien said: "There certainly isn't any problem at the moment."