Novellist misses Arc bid

King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes hero Novellist has been ruled out of tomorrow’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp after running a temperature.

Andreas Wohler’s four-year-old produced a scintillating display to clinch Ascot’s midsummer showpiece in July under Johnny Murtagh and was set to head to France as a major contender for this weekend’s Longchamp feature after a satisfactory prep race win at Baden-Baden last month.

However, Wohler discovered all was not well with his stable star when preparing him for his trip to Paris this morning and he has had no option but to pull him out of Europe’s premier middle-distance event.

Wohler said: “He had a temperature this morning and it has developed even more, so there is no way we can let him travel to Paris.

“It’s unbelievable and very disappointing, but he has given us some great moments this year.”

The Gutersloh-based handler is understandably keen to let the dust settle before making future plans, but he did raise the possibility of Novellist running again before the end of the year.

“He will get an entry in the Japan Cup, but it is much to early to think about that now,” said the trainer.