Markab out of Abbaye
Markab may have run his last race for Henry Candy after having been ruled out of Sunday’s Prix de l’Abbaye due to an unsatisfactory scope.
The seven-year-old had been as short as 5-1 for the Longchamp Group One following his recent success in Haydock’s Betfred Sprint Cup, but he will not be making the trip to France.
And with one or Markab’s owners set to take out a training licence for 2011, Candy is uncertain what the future holds for his star sprinter.
“It’s obviously very disappointing. He worked this morning by himself and looked absolutely fine, but it’s one of those things,” said Candy.
“That’s him done for the year now and the leading member of the Tight Lines Partnership (owners), Ed de Giles, is taking out a training licence himself next year.
“The horse is going to the horses-in-training sale at Tattersalls at the end of October to dissolve the partnership.
“Goodness knows after that, but we’ve had a fantastic time with him this year.”
Another horse who will not be lining up in the Group One contest is Robin Bastiman's stable star Borderlescott.
The eight-year-old suffered a muscle injury when winning the Audi Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and while he has since competed in the Nunthorpe and the Betfred Sprint Cup, Bastiman feels his charge has never fully recovered.
“He’s OK but he seems to have this muscle problem – it’s lurking somewhere,” said the Wetherby handler.
“He’s still sound, but something is not quite right. In hindsight, maybe we shouldn’t have run at York and Haydock, but sometimes toy let your heart rule your head.
“He’s fine, though, so we’ll give him some physio and give him the rest of the year off.
“We’ll have another go with him next year. I don’t think age will be a problem and he hasn’t got many miles on the clock.
“As long as his heart is still in it, we’ll keep going.”
A total of 29 horses remained in the line-up following the latest forfeit stage, with the likes of Swiss Diva, last year’s winner Total Gallery, War Artist and Nunthorpe hero Sole Power still in the reckoning.
