Chester flop Eminent to head to royal meeting after getting clean bill of health

Eminent, who flopped when well fancied for the Huxley Stakes at Chester recently and was found to have a minor heart issue, is being aimed at Royal Ascot as trainer Martyn Meade says the problem has not resurfaced.

Owned by Sir Peter Vela, Eminent, who won last year's Craven Stakes before finishing sixth in the 2,000 Guineas and fourth in the Derby, went off the 8-13 favourite for the Huxley but finished last of five, much to the disappointment of his trainer, who saddled a royal meeting-bound juvenile in Advertise to win at Newbury on Friday.

Watch Eminent finish fourth in the 2017 Derby

Meade said: "Eminent's fine and he's come out of all the tests absolutely perfect. We'll still go for the Prince of Wales's and put that Chester run down to a one-off, when the whole rhythm of the heart got out of sync, which it can do with electrical pulses.

"It returned to normal very quickly and we've had no recurrence, so it's not unreasonable to assume that's a one-off, and it can happen."

Eminent is 33-1 with William Hill for the Prince of Wales's, but as short as 12-1 in a place.

Prince Of Wales's Stakes card and betting

"We've continued with him as normal as I think that's the best way to do it," Meade added.

"He's worked since and been perfect, but obviously we watched him with an eagle eye. He'll be prepared for Ascot and I'll take him for a racecourse gallop before just to get him in a different environment."

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