Roe a late defector from Ascot showpiece

Vinnie Roe has been taken out of the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot tomorrow.

The six-year-old has been suffering with a muscle problem recently and trainer Dermot Weld is not willing to risk his charge on ground which is currently described as good to firm, firm in places.

Weld had warned earlier in the week that the son of Definite Article had some stiffness in his quarters and that he would need decent ground in order to run.

He said this evening: “I’m not entirely happy with the horse and I’m not prepared to risk running him on that ground.”

Paul Cole, meanwhile, is expecting last year’s winner Mr Dinos to make a bold bid to land back-to-back victories in tomorrow’s race.

The five-year-old, who won by six lengths from Persian Punch twelve months ago, will be having his third start of the season after finishing fourth in the Yorkshire Cup and second in the Henry II Stakes at Sandown.

Cole’s charge was beaten Godolphin’s Papineau in the latter, but Mr Dinos was giving 7lb to the winner and jockey Kieren Fallon had to snatch up in the closing stages as he ran out of room.

“He did his final bit of work yesterday and it went well. He’s fine and ready to run,” the trainer said today. “The form is there for everyone to see, he was a bit unlucky and the winner had a 7lb pull at Sandown. Mr Dinos also needed further than that race.”

Before his win last season, Mr Dinos spent three weeks in isolation at Cole’s yard as the stable had some virus problems.

But the Whatcombe handler reports preparations to have gone much more smoothly this time.

“Last year we had a lot of problems and we have not had those problems this time round. We had a bit of the virus last year and then he threw a splint after the Sandown race and that hasn’t happened this year,” he explained.

“I don’t think the race is going to suit all the horses tomorrow as it’s probably going to be a bit firm for some. But he seems to go on it.

“I’m never confident going into a race as I’ve had too many horses go wrong, but we’re very pleased with him.”

Elie Lellouche has issued an upbeat bulletin ahead of Westerner’s attempt to end a 27-year drought for the French in the big race.

The five-year-old will be bidding to become the first Gallic winner since Sagaro in 1977.

Westerner comes into this race on the back of a surprise defeat in the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier when Forestier beat him a quarter of a length in the Group Two event at Longchamp.

Jockey Dominique Boeuf came in for some criticism that day, but he has since been sacked as stable jockey to owner Alec Wildenstein and Gerald Mosse takes over tomorrow.

The Longchamp defeat was his first since last September and Lellouche is sure the Danehill horse will acquit himself well tomorrow.

He said: “Westerner arrived this morning, he’s very well and we’re very happy with him. We would have preferred some cut in the ground, but after all it is the middle of June.

“His preparation has gone perfectly. Last week he worked very well. I don’t train him any different than I do the others.

“He ran over a mile before going over longer distances and he has always been a little bit keen so I didn’t want to get him too excited.

“Mr Dinos will be the favourite. He won last year, but in the absence of poor Persian Punch the conditions will not be the same – I don’t think they will go as fast.”