Economics ruled out of Prince of Wales's Stakes in a big blow to William Haggas's Royal Ascot plans

William Haggas has suffered a major blow to his Royal Ascot plans after Economics was ruled out of the meeting after pulling a muscle.

Last year’s Irish Champion Stakes winner had long been pencilled in to make his seasonal return in the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes (4.20) next Wednesday, for which he was 5-1 second favourite with most bookmakers.

Economics won four of his five starts as a three-year-old, including the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York. He missed the Derby but went on to beat dual Derby winner Auguste Rodin in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

Haggas said on Tuesday morning: “Unfortunately, Economics won’t make Royal Ascot and is out in the short term, but it’s no big deal and hopefully he can be back in action soon.”

As part of his preparation for his first run at the royal meeting, Haggas had taken his leading four-year-old to Newbury last week for a racecourse gallop.

The Newmarket trainer added: “Economics had an awayday at Newbury, where he worked nicely and the most important thing was his scope was clean after the work. We were happy with him but we found he had pulled a muscle afterwards, so we’ve had to back off him since and I’m afraid we’ve run out of time for Ascot.”

Beyond Ascot, Economics holds an entry in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on July 5, for which he is a 6-1 chance. However, that would appear unlikely and he could be aimed at an Irish Champion Stakes repeat or the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

After his victory in Ireland, Economics was last seen finishing sixth behind Anmaat in the Champion Stakes at Ascot in October.

Price of Wales's Stakes, Ascot (Wednesday June 18, 4.20)

William Hill: 9-4 Los Angeles, 7-2 Anmaat, 9-2 Map Of Stars, 5 Ombudsman, 7 White Birch, 10 Almaqam, Kalpana, 12 Facteur Cheval, 25 bar.

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