Fascinating Rock ruled out due to bad blood count

Fascinating Rock: a shock absentee from the Qipco Irish Champion StakesCredit: Caroline Norris

Dermot Weld has blamed a bad blood count for Fascinating Rock's surprise absence from Saturday's Qipco Irish Champion Stakes, for which a stellar cast of 13 have been declared.

Frankie Dettori had been booked to ride Fascinating Rock for the first time at Leopardstown, but Weld said on Thursday: "I wasn't happy with his blood count this morning so we've decided not to run and we didn't declare him."

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David JenningsDeputy Ireland editor

Published on 8 September 2016inIrish Champions Festival

Last updated 15:38, 8 September 2016

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