Abbey misses Royal Ascot

Three-time Coronation Cup hero St Nicholas Abbey will bypass Royal Ascot and instead be targeted at the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at the same track in July.

The hugely talented six-year-old clinched the sixth Group One prize of his career with another superb performance on Epsom Derby day last weekend, after which connections mentioned Royal Ascot’s Hardwicke Stakes as a possible next port of call.

However, the son of Montjeu will instead aim to secure further top-level honours in the King George, having finished a close third in the mile and a half contest last season.