International fifth Decorated Knight found to have pulled muscles

Decorated Knight, whose Group 1 wins this term have established him as a firm favourite at Roger Charlton's yard, was found to have pulled muscles after his fifth-placed finish in Wednesday's Juddmonte International Stakes at York.

The Jebel Hatta and Tattersalls Gold Cup winner finished eight and a half lengths behind Ulysses, but was lame on Thursday morning.

"He ran another wonderful race, all the way to the line, and was right with the main protagonists until a furlong out," said Charlton, quoted on his website.

"My vet has checked him out and it would appear he has pulled some muscles in his hind quarters. We'll assess him over the coming days. He has run so consistently all year and is a real yard favourite after his Group 1 wins earlier in the year."

Plans for Barney Roy, two places ahead of Decorated Knight at York, are a little clearer, with the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on October 21 - and a potential clash with fellow Godolphin ace Ribchester - an option if conditions are testing on Champions Day.

The same afternoon's Qipco Champion Stakes, which is over a mile and a quarter, is another possible target for the St James's Palace Stakes winner.

Trainer Richard Hannon, who rejected any blame for Barney Roy's defeat in the positive ride James Doyle gave him, said: "He ran a good race and I still stand by the fact – and it's not James's fault – that we did start to go at it slightly early, a long way out and soften it up and make it ideal for Ulysses.

"If it's soft ground he'll come back to a mile for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. If it's nice ground I think he's all right at a mile and a quarter and we'll ride him a little more conservatively."

If you are interested in this, you might like:

Hannon: duel of star milers set it up for Ulysses

Vintage Stoute as sparkling Ulysses makes it super six