Siskin to miss National Stakes showdown and be targeted instead at Middle Park

Siskin will miss a hotly anticipated clash against Pinatubo and Armory in Sunday's Vincent O’Brien National Stakes after connections opted instead to give the unbeaten colt a first run in Britain this month.

Trained by Ger Lyons, Siskin was set to be one of the stars of Irish Champions Weekend but will now be aimed at the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on September 28.

"Siskin is fine but the decision has been taken to miss the National Stakes at the Curragh and wait for the Middle Park," said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Siskin's owner Khalid Abdullah.

Siskin, who had been the general 7-2 second favourite for the National Stakes, will be kept to six furlongs in the Middle Park – a race Abdullah sponsors under the Juddmonte banner – rather than stepping up to seven for the first time at the Curragh.

The unbeaten juvenile has shown a smart turn of foot in his four victories, with his most recent success being a narrow defeat of Monarch Of Egypt in the Phoenix Stakes when he did not appear to relish soft ground.

Like Siskin, Pinatubo is unbeaten in four starts and heads the market for next year’s Qipco 2,000 Guineas following his five-length defeat of subsequent Solario Stakes winner Positive in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood last month.

The son of Shamardal is set to clash with Group 2 Futurity Stakes winner Armory, who will attempt to give Aidan O’Brien a 12th win in the National Stakes.

Paddy Power shortened Pinatubo into 1-2 (from 4-7) for the National Stakes, with Armory into 11-4 (from 4).

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