Canford Cliffs ruled out of Ascot's QEII

Triple Group One winner Canford Cliffs will miss the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Saturday after suffering a setback.

Favourite with most bookmakers for the £250,000 one-mile event, he was omitted from the line-up after his final scope proved unsatisfactory.

The Richard Hannon-trained colt had worked brilliantly yesterday morning and was a warm order to beat Makfi and Rip Van Winkle in what was promising to be one of the races of the season.

However, Hannon said: "The scope was marginal but Canford Cliffs is now such a valuable commodity that you cannot take any chances. So having listened to veterinary advice, we have no option but to pull out.

"Everyone in the yard is gutted and we realise that it could well cost us the trainers' championship but the welfare of the horse comes first and you need to be 100 per cent to go into a battle for a Group One.

"Though he'd probably be fine if there was another race coming up in a week or so, the fact is there is nothing left for him over a mile. However, the great thing is that we have him in training for next year - he has done us proud this season and he'll be back better than ever as a four-year-old."