Vazirabad ruled out of Order Of St George Gold Cup clash

Vazirabad will miss next week's Gold Cup after suffering a minor injury in last month's Prix Vicomtesse Vigier, a defection which removes one of the most serious barriers to a second win in the race for Order Of St George and an eighth for Aidan O'Brien.

"He took a knock during his prep run and there was bruising on his leg," said Alain de Royer-Dupre, who is now left without a runner at the royal meeting.

"I think it happened passing the stands just after the start. There is no real trace left now but it has hindered me in his build-up and there is no point in taking the risk."

A winner of the last two runnings of both the Prix Royal-Oak and the Dubai Gold Cup, Vazirabad was a best-priced 7-1 second favourite for the Gold Cup, which in common with several of next week's Group 1s now has an undisputed odds-on favourite in 2016 winner Order Of St George.

"It's a shame because he's in magnificent shape otherwise and we will now aim him at the Group 1 Goodwood Cup," said Royer-Dupre.

Bookmakers reacted by trimming Order Of St George into a best-priced even-money, from 6-4, for the 2m 4f Group 1 which he won last year.

Simple Verse, beaten a neck in last month's Yorkshire Cup, is rated the biggest threat by layers who cut her into as short as 7-1, with impressive Henry II Stakes winner Big Orange now a general 10-1.

Vazirabad's absence has only fuelled the chances of a five-fold Royal Ascot acca featuring Churchill, Ribchester, Winter, Caravaggio and Order Of St George flooring bookies.

Coral's David Stevens said: "Order Of St George was already one of the banker bets for many punters next week, and his task appears to have been made even easier by the absence of Vazirabad, who was one of the runners we were hoping to have on our side against the quintet of well-backed favourites we're already running scared of."