Favourite Damson to miss 1,000 Guineas

Ante-post punters suffered the latest in a long line of costly reversals this spring when the heavily-backed Damson was ruled out of the UltimatePoker.com 1,000 Guineas.

David Wachman's filly had been as short as 11-4 favourite to land Sunday's Newmarket showpiece and was expected to confirm her place with a workout under Kieren Fallon in Newmarket this morning.

She duly appeared on the gallops with Fallon aboard, but the warning signs began to flash soon after when she began to drift badly in the betting on the Betfair exchange.

Layers were prepared to offer 100-1 about the Entrepreneur filly and her supporters were put out of their misery when Wachman revealed that Damson had scoped badly.

He said: "Obviously, it's very disappointing for all concerned, but it's not the end of the world and hopefully we'll have her back in time for the Irish 1,000 Guineas."

News of Damson's absence from the Guineas forced a hasty re-think in trading rooms across the country, and Ladbrokes reacted by making the Nell Gwyn winner Karen's Caper and Sir Michael Stoute's unbeaten Shanghai Lily 4-1 joint favourites.