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Grand National festival

Britain's Arc challenge reduced as Telecaster is ruled out by Morrison

Telecaster was an impressive winner of the Grand Prix de Deauville last month
Telecaster was an impressive winner of the Grand Prix de Deauville last monthCredit: France Galop / Scoop Dyga

Hughie Morrison has confirmed Telecaster will miss Sunday's Prix de l'Arc De Triomphe after failing to please when breezing on Tuesday morning.

Last year's Dante Stakes winner had been successful twice in France this year, most recently making all when a runaway six-and-a-half-length winner of the Group 2 Grand Prix de Deauville on heavy ground, and with testing conditions forecast for Longchamp at the weekend he had become a lively outsider in Arc ante-post markets.


Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe card


However, Morrison sees no point in sending Telecaster to France with even the slightest doubt over his wellbeing.

The trainer said: "He's just not right this morning so we are not going to run. It's a pain in the backside, but that's racehorses for you."

He added: "He did a breeze and we just weren't happy with him. We know our horse and there's just no point going all the way to France for a race of that quality in the circumstances.

Hughie Morrison at Summerdown Stables, East Ilsley 27.5.19Pic: Edward Whitaker
Hughie Morrison: 'I get over these things very quickly - I go into total gloom for an hour or so and then move on'Credit: Edward Whitaker

"I get over these things very quickly – I go into total gloom for an hour or so and then move on – but it's much worse for the owners and of course for the lads who look after him, who put everything into the job and then blame themselves when the horse isn't right."

A decision has not yet been made about whether Telecaster, who is by New Approach out of the Oaks and Irish Oaks second Shirocco Star, will stay in training or go to stud.

Morrison said: "He's got lots of options, but he has a wonderful pedigree and great form, and he'd make a lovely stallion. We'll see what comes around."

Telecaster, who was as short as 16-1 for the Arc, was the most significant of seven absentees from the race when Tuesday's forfeits were revealed.

The others include Enable's stablemate, last year's St Leger winner Logician, who is due to contest Saturday's Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot, and five trained by Joseph O'Brien – Buckhurst, Crossfirehurricane, Degraves, New York Girl and Thames River.

A supplementary stage for the Arc takes place on Wednesday, with runners able to added to the field at a cost of €72,000.

Read more on the Arc:

Dettori taking no chances ahead of second bid to make history on Enable

Enable new Arc favourite as heavy rain leaves Longchamp 'very soft'

Olivier Peslier relishing chance to partner 'super horse' Stradivarius

Members' Club: Aidan O'Brien: ground not an advantage to Love but she's much stronger now

Members' Club: Bjorn Nielsen: Stradivarius is a lion and we know he has the turn of foot

Members' Club: Kicking off our countdown of the ten greatest winners of the Arc


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Graham DenchReporter

Published on 29 September 2020inGrand National festival

Last updated 12:01, 29 September 2020

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