Guard ruled out of Lincoln
The five-year-old, trained in France by John Hammond, was 10-1 second-favourite with Ladbrokes.
“John Hammond has phoned and advised me that he is not happy with the horse and that it won’t be running,” said Fallon’s agent Dave Pollington.
Pollington now has to try and find a suitable replacement in the first leg of the ‘spring double’ for Fallon.
Royal Guard has won three of his five starts, finishing second on his other two outings.
A change to the stalls being used at Doncaster has resulted in the safety limit for the Lincoln being reduced by two to 22 from 24.
The final declaration stage for the Lincoln will take place next Thursday when connections will again be able to select their own stall position at a celebrity draw.
The consolation race for the Lincoln, the Stanleybet Spring Mile, for horses who have failed to get a place in the big race, will be run over the same course and distance next Friday.
Meanwhile, Lynda Ramsden was fined a total of £950 by the Jockey Club’s disciplinary panel yesterday after her runner Turnaround tested positive to a prohibited substance at York last year.
Turnaround was sent off the 3-1 favourite for the Irwin Mitchell Solicitors Stakes on August 17 but trailed in last of the 13 runners.
A sample of urine taken afterwards was found to contain hydroxyethylpromazine and other metabolites of the sedative acepromazine (ACP).
After considering the evidence, including a statement from Mrs Ramsden, who was legally represented, and a stable employee, the panel ‘were unable to establish the source of the substance and could not therefore be satisfied that the administration of the substance was accidental and that the trainer had taken all reasonable care’.
Jockey Club PR director John Maxse said: “The CCTV footage from the racecourse showed the stable in shot for the whole time the horse was there and it was clear that no-one other than those who had a right to be with the horse had access to it.
“We were satisfied that there was no foul play with regard to a deliberate attempt to administer something to the horse on course.
Mrs Ramsden’s husband, Jack, said: “We don’t have a clue how it got there and nor do the Jockey Club but, as we know in these cases, you’re guilty until proven innocent and it’s very difficult to prove that you are innocent when no-one knows where that sample has come from.
“Our case was based on errors in the sampling procedure carried out by the Jockey Club at York.”
