Cheka ruled out of Guineas

The Cheka has been scratched from the stanjames.com 2000 Guineas at Newmarket after suffering a setback.

Eve Johnson Houghton’s colt was an impressive 10-length winner on his Ascot debut and confirmed that effort to be no fluke when beaten just half a length by Sri Putra in the Solario Stakes at Sandown.

The Cheka is now likely to be geared towards Royal Ascot.

“Unfortunately he has just had a series of minor niggling problems and I am just not going to have to have him ready for Newmarket,” said the Oxfordshire handler.

“It’s disappointing and gut-wrenching news as, although nobody else did, I really fancied him for the Guineas.

“He’s been working with 100-plus-rated horses and he is just a machine.

“We could make the Irish Guineas, but I would say we might have to wait until Royal Ascot.

“It’s better for the horse if we bite the bullet now and wait.”