Leading Royal Hunt Cup contender ruled out of royal meeting

Ed Dunlop has all but ruled his leading fancy Skukuza out of Wednesday’s Royal Hunt Cup on account of the likely fast conditions at next week's meeting.
The general 10-1 fourth favourite was initially promoted to favourite after running out an impressive winner of a Premier handicap at the Curragh last month.
In his absence, Dunlop may be without a runner at this year’s meeting. The trainer has saddled eight winners at Royal Ascot, including Group 1 wins with Trip To Paris in the Gold Cup and Ouija Board in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes.

Skukuza finished runner-up in last year's Britannia Handicap on good to firm ground, but connections are keen to avoid similar conditions this time.
Dunlop said: “Unfortunately its unlikely Skukuza will be running at Royal Ascot because he needs some ease in the ground and looking at all the forecasts he’s not going to get it. They do a good job with the watering but it looks as if we are in for a dry week so we won’t be going and I don’t know if we will have a runner all week.”
Skukuza holds an entry in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket's July festival, and Dunlop added: “He’s in at Newmarket but he’s also in a Group 3 in Germany so he could go there if they look like having some rain.”
Royal Hunt Cup (5.00 Royal Ascot, Wednesday)
Bet365: 5 My Cloud, 8 The Liffey, Volterra, 10 Skukuza, 12 Bullet Point, 16 Qirat, Roi De France, Treasure Time, 20 bar.
Read these next:

To help you get set for Royal Ascot, we're offering you the first month of Racing Post+ Ultimate for £20 when you sign up via web using code JUNEJEWELS20 – that's a whopping 60% discount. Available only to new and returning customers. Subscription will auto-renew at £49.95 unless you call our cancellation line to cancel. Sign up now.
Published on inRoyal Ascot
Last updated
- Paul Kealy's Royal Ascot runners to follow - including the beaten handicapper who looks Group class
- Day two of Royal Ascot records its highest ever World Pool turnover as overall figures increase on last year's meeting
- Royal Ascot results 2025: the winners of all 35 races at the royal meeting
- Gary Carroll back in time to ride Cercene in Irish Oaks after receiving 14-day whip ban for Coronation Stakes-winning ride
- Ed Chamberlin: 'Having a striking grey for a terrestrial audience makes him all the more appealing - he’s going to capture attention'
- Paul Kealy's Royal Ascot runners to follow - including the beaten handicapper who looks Group class
- Day two of Royal Ascot records its highest ever World Pool turnover as overall figures increase on last year's meeting
- Royal Ascot results 2025: the winners of all 35 races at the royal meeting
- Gary Carroll back in time to ride Cercene in Irish Oaks after receiving 14-day whip ban for Coronation Stakes-winning ride
- Ed Chamberlin: 'Having a striking grey for a terrestrial audience makes him all the more appealing - he’s going to capture attention'