Top Offer will be limited to the pre-parade ring when he goes to Newbury
PICTURE: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)Top Offer to head straight to Newmarket
TOP OFFER'S planned Qipco 2,000 Guineas warm up in Saturday's Group 3 Aon Greenham Stakes has been shelved after trainer Roger Charlton decided conditions would be too soft to risk the exciting colt so close to Newmarket.
The 2,000 Guineas second favourite will still be sent to Newbury where his exercise will be limited to walking the pre-parade ring, but his preparation for the May 5 Classic will be completed on Charlton's Beckhampton gallops.
Tales Of Grimm, who won the other division of the Newbury maiden to Top Offer last August, was also pulled out of the Greenham on Friday, leaving just five runners in the 2,000 Guineas trial.
Tough decsion: Roger Charlton
PICTURE: Mark CranhamCharlton, who took the decision after attending Friday's Newbury meeting where he had a winner, said: "Top Offer is not going to run. With the headwind today and the ground as it is, it's going to be testing even if it doesn't rain.
"It's not an easy decision but in reality if I can work him when I want how I want it's better for the horse not to have a hard race. If it was three weeks before the Guineas it would be different but the chances are you are going to get a tougher race in ground which could be quite soft.
"It makes more sense to let the horse go to the races, have a wander round and give him a preparation on our beautiful gallops at Beckhampton with all the nice horses we've got before deciding."
Charlton added: "I'm still keen to run in the Guineas and I don't want to jeopardise the chance of doing well by having a tough race in ground I know he won't like.
"I'll take him to the course [on Saturday] and he will walk round the pre-parade ring, then at some stage between now and the Guineas he would do some work."
Tales Of Grimm's stablemate Fiorente misses the Dubai Duty Free-sponsored John Porter Stakes earlier on the card.
Rain earlier in the week and intermittent showers since left the going soft at Newbury on Friday.
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