Laugh Aloud misses Duke of Cambridge due to heat in leg

John Gosden's star-studded cast for day two of Royal Ascot will be missing one of its headline acts after Laugh Aloud was declared a non-runner in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes due to heat in a leg.

Speaking to the Racing Post on Wednesday morning, Gosden said: "Laugh Aloud has some heat in a splint and won't be able to run at Royal Ascot today.

"Despite ice packs etc it hasn't settled sufficiently to allow her to take part. It's annoying but hopefully it's only a short-term thing."

Laugh Aloud, an easy winner of the Group 3 Investec-sponsored Princess Elizabeth Stakes on Derby day, had been vying for favouritism with last year's Coronation Stakes winner Qemah, who is now clear favourite at a general 15-8.

Gosden, who has a host of strong chances for the day including Jack Hobbs in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes, Daban in the Jersey Stakes and Gymnaste in the Sandringham, will still be represented in the Duke of Cambridge with stable debutante and Argentinian Group 1 winner Greta G.

Following a treble on day one, Laugh Aloud's owners Godolphin will be pinning their hopes on last year's scorer Usherette, who is second favourite behind Qemah.

Conditions similar to day one

The ground for day two remained good to firm on Wednesday morning, with 5mm of water added to the whole course after racing on Tuesday.

Clerk of the course Chris Stickels said: "We're good to firm, watered, and I'd expect it to ride very similar to yesterday.

"There were some course records yesterday and the horses were moving very well and letting themselves down on the ground. It's fast but not too firm."

After sizzling temperatures on Tuesday, the mercury is set to rise even further with some weather reports suggesting it will be the hottest day of the year.

"It's going to be warm with highs of 30-31C," added Stickels. "It's going to get a little cooler after today with temperatures in the mid 20s on Thursday and low 20s on Friday and Saturday. There's a small risk of showers over the last three days."

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