Ruby's switch upsets Miguel owner

The news that the Paul-Nicholls-trained Azertyuiop will run in Boxing Day's King George VI Chase has not pleased everyone.

Following the decision, Andy Stewart, owner of Azertuiop's stablemate Le Roi Miguel, was informed that top Irish rider Ruby Walsh has deserted his horse to take the mount on the Champion two-miler.

Paul Carberry has stepped in to take the ride on Le Roi Miguel but an upset Stewart, speaking to the Racing Post from Barbados, said: "I had a phone call from Ruby saying he couldn't ride Le Roi Miguel because he loves Azertyuiop so much, but I wasn't really interested in his reasons.

"Ruby knew there was a problem with jockeys but leaves it up to the last minute to tell me.

"I won't bother going now. This game is meant to be fun, but it certainly doesn't seem that way to me now."

Azertyuiop was expected to run in the Castleford Chase at Wetherby on Monday but has been switched to Kempton because of rain at the West Yorkshire track.

Stewart, who even considered pulling Le Roi Miguel out of the King George, added: "I don't know about me and Ruby now. I never say never, but I've been brought up to stand by my word; obviously Ruby isn't the same."

Trainer Nicholls said: "The decision to ride Azertyuiop was down to Ruby. I was under the impression he would ride Le Roi Miguel.