Royal Ascot next for 2,000 Guineas winner Ruling Court after his late Derby withdrawal

Hopes of a first triple crown winner in 55 years were washed away as rain-softened ground caused Ruling Court to be pulled out of the Betfred Derby (3.30).

Underfoot conditions at Epsom were deemed unsuitable for Godolphin's colt and he was withdrawn more than an hour and a half before the race.

Ruling Court had been disputing favouritism for the Derby ever since his victory in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket last month.

Success for William Buick's mount would have put him two-thirds of the way towards earning a £2 million bonus from Betfred, which would have been paid out had he gone on to collect the St Leger at Doncaster in September.

No horse has won all three colts' Classics in Britain since Nijinsky in 1970 —and he was the first to complete the triple crown since Bahram in 1935.

Trainer Charlie Appleby, whose Desert Flower was beaten favourite for the Oaks on Friday, said on ITV: "It's very disappointing. As we know the horse was prepped towards this race and he's in great nick. The ground conditions were a concern yesterday with the filly and William said it rode good to soft.

Minnie Hauk: won Friday's Oaks with Desert Flower in thirdCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

"There was rain overnight on opened ground. We arrived here with an open mind that we'd let William ride in the first race. He felt it was riding genuine good to soft ground. Collectively the other jockeys were on the same page.

"Stamina was an unknown for us and we felt that what we saw in the Guineas on quick ground and the way he quickened that day, it was not going to be the surface for him today to be testing him over a mile and a half, bearing in mind that we've hopefully got a fruitful summer in front of us. We've got Ascot and the Eclipse just around the corner."

Asked about likely new targets for Ruling Court, Appleby said: "We'll let everything settle for the next 24 hours but I'd imagine the plan would be to take a good strong view of the St James's Palace Stakes and the Eclipse thereafter."

The 1,000 Guineas winner Desert Flower was beaten just over four lengths into third place behind Minnie Hauk in the Oaks. 

"I think it was a combination of the ground and the unique track," Appleby said. "That's why the three-year-olds that win round here you doff your hats to them because they are supreme athletes. It just wasn't something she was used to and I felt coming into the straight we were always going to be behind the ball." 

St James's Palace Stakes (Royal Ascot, June 17)
Betfair: 8-11 Field Of Gold, 11-4 Ruling Court, 9-2 Henri Matisse, 7 Cosmic Year, 10 bar.

Follow the Derby day latest here.

Looking for free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more.