Arcano ruled out of Darley July Cup

Arcano has been ruled out of next week's Darley July Cup after connections admitted defeat in getting him fit for the race.

One of last season's leading juveniles, Brian Meehan's colt has only been seen once this season when well beaten by the Richard Hannon pair of Dick Turpin and Canford Cliffs in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury.

He is still quoted by bookmakers at around the 20-1 mark for the sprint on the July Course, but that will now come too soon.

"Arcano is on his way back," said Angus Gold, owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's racing manager.

"His blood took a long time to get back right after Newbury, it was just a few silly little things that have taken him a bit longer than we hoped.

"We were hoping to get him ready for the July Cup next week but he's not quite going to make it.

"I hope he will be back on the track in the next two to three weeks."

Another smart juvenile last season in the same ownership was Mark Johnston's Awzaan, winner of the Middle Park Stakes.

He has also only been seen once when he finished 15th in the 2000 Guineas, in which he sustained an injury.

"He just tweaked a suspensory and it is taking a long time to settle down but there is nothing anyone can do about that," added Gold.

"We won't be seeing him any time quickly, sadly.

"Awzaan is not a big horse and he was probably mature last sure and the plan was to get on with him this year, but there we go.

"With a suspensory you can't rush it."