Favourite Lah Ti Dar ruled out of Investec Oaks after poor blood test

Investec Oaks favourite Lah Ti Dar has been ruled out of the race by trainer John Gosden due to a setback.

The unbeaten filly had been the general 2-1 market leader for the Classic having impressively won the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket this month.

She was set to be ridden by Frankie Dettori at Epsom next Friday.

Investec Oaks card and betting

However, Gosden reported on Friday: "Unfortunately Lah Ti Dar returned an unsatisfactory blood test this morning.

"She will not be able to work at the weekend and therefore, and with much regret, she will not be participating in the Oaks. The owners have had no luck in the Oaks at all."

Lah Ti Dar is owned by Lord and Lady Lloyd-Webber, whose filly The Fugue started favourite for the 2012 Oaks but was hampered before finishing a staying-on third, while Lah Ti Dar's sister So Mi Dar won the Musidora Stakes by four lengths but then experienced a tibia problem and did not make the Epsom Classic.

Of Lah Ti Dar, Gosden added: "Assuming she recovers okay, she will be prepared for the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot."

Godolphin's Wild Illusion, fourth in the Qipco 1,000 Guineas, assumed favouritism for the Oaks, at a best-priced 5-1 with William Hill, with Magical next best at 7-1 with BoyleSports.

Magical's Aidan O'Brien-trained stablemate Delano Roosevelt has been popular in the Investec Derby market over the past 48 hours and on Friday was a general 12-1 chance (from 16) in a market led by another Ballydoyle horse, Saxon Warrior, at 5-6.

Dee Ex Bee is a general 33-1 shot and trainer Mark Johnston said: "He will run in the Derby. We don't know if James Doyle will ride. If Godolphin insists, he will ride him, but he has an association with the horse that beat him at Chester [Young Rascal] and he may prefer to ride that if he was given the choice.

"James hasn't actually won on him. He's ridden him twice in two of his more disappointing races. We'll have a chat and see what suits everybody."

The trainer added: "Mildenberger will go to Royal Ascot for either the King Edward VII or Queen's Vase."

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