'I don't want people losing money' - Teal reveals Oxted doubt for Royal Ascot

Roger Teal on Tuesday warned punters to hold fire on backing Oxted retaining his King's Stand Stakes title at Royal Ascot in June after the star sprinter suffered a setback.

Successful in the 2020 July Cup, Oxted produced an impressive performance to win the King's Stand last year.

He had not been seen since a fine third in last summer's July Cup, but surgery to remove a piece of floating bone from a joint went well and the Lambourn trainer had been purring about Oxted's wellbeing.

However, a return to action in the 1895 Duke Of York Clipper Logistics Stakes next month is now off the agenda, while the royal meeting could be doubtful.

Watch Oxted reign supreme in the 2021 King's Stand

Teal, who trains the six-year-old for Tony Hirschfeld, Stephen Piper, David Fish and John Collins, said: "I don't want people losing money ante-post.

"I've had to scratch Oxted from the Duke Of York as we've had a bit of a setback. It's not that chip, but we'll know more in a couple of weeks. He won't run at York and possibly other races down the line."

Oxted's King Stand odds range from 10-1 to 12-1 and Teal added: "The owners have said about people having ante-post bets and Royal Ascot doesn't look great at the moment, but I'm not 100 per cent sure. I'm flagging it up more than anything just to warn people he might not make Ascot.

"I'll be wiser and have a clearer picture in a few weeks. It was something on the gallops and he might have bit of a strain, but it's a bit too early to tell how severe it is.

"We'll let everything settle down and give him a bit of a rest and reassess things in two weeks."

Crack US sprinter Golden Pal heads the betting at 5-2 for the King's Stand, which takes place on June 14.

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