Lameness likely to rule Mrs Danvers out for remainder of season

Mrs Danvers, conqueror of Saturday's impressive Coral Charge winner Battaash last year, is unlikely to run again this season.

Her trainer Jonny Portman said on Sunday: "She's been intermittently lame behind ever since April when she ran in France.

"We're going to rest her probably for the rest of the season but there is a faint possibility she could be back in the autumn.

"We'll bring her back into training to give her full opportunity to race as a four-year-old but failing that I'm sure her owner-breeder will want to breed from her."

Mrs Danvers is set to spend a couple of months at Watership Down Stud before that crucial return to Portman.

"Two separate veterinary practices have tried to diagnose the problem," added the Upper Lambourn trainer, "but we haven't got to the bottom of it. We assume she has some nerve damage in her back and will keep on with the diagnosis work to give her every chance."

'We miss her'

The grey filly, who earned awards and a growing fan club in completing an unbeaten two-year-old season that included the Newbury Super Sprint and Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes, where Battaash was back in third, has not raced since disappointing on her seasonal return in the Prix Sigy at Chantilly.

"It is very frustrating especially after Saturday's result and she looks amazing," added Portman. "But she has really missed only one race and that was the Commonwealth Cup and I'm glad she didn't run on that firm ground.

"She's filled out an awful lot and her work before her run in France was as good as when she was two.

"We miss her as the stable is short of talent at the moment," lamented Portman.