Too Darn Hot eased for 2,000 Guineas as ten go for Greenham in his absence

Too Darn Hot was on Thursday eased further for next month's Qipco 2,000 Guineas following the revelation he would miss his intended first start of the season at Newbury because of a setback.

The son of Dubawi had initially been pushed out to 11-10 for the Newmarket Classic as news was confirmed that he would not be running on Saturday, and last season's champion two-year-old, who remains the favourite for the Guineas, has since been eased to a top-priced 13-8 (from 6-5). Second favourite Ten Sovereigns is available at 6-1 and Ballydoyle stablemate Magna Grecia at 8-1, the same price as Zakouski.

It was revealed on Wednesday night that Too Darn Hot would not be taking part in the Greenham after he was found to have some heat in his splint bone, with trainer John Gosden stating the plan is to take him straight to the Guineas.

Gosden said: "Too Darn Hot breezed comfortably this morning under Frankie Dettori on the Al Bahathri but tonight at evening stables he was found to have some heat in his splint bone.

"Unfortunately he'll have to miss Newbury as he'll have a few easy days. The plan is to take him straight to the Qipco 2,000 Guineas."

There is history here with Too Darn Hot's family having also had setbacks. His three-time Group 1-winning dam Dar Re Mi missed the Epsom Oaks during her Classic campaign, while her daughters, Lah Ti Dar and So Mi Dar, both also by Dubawi, missed the Oaks. Lah Ti Dar went on to finish second in last season's St Leger.

Ten have been declared for the Watership Down Stud Greenham Stakes in the absence of Too Darn Hot. The unbeaten colt had been 1-3 ante-post favourite for the Group 3.

Boitron, who finished a close-up fourth in the Group 1 Jean-Luc Lagardere last time out, was on Thursday a best-priced 7-2 for the Greenham. His trainer Richard Hannon also runs unbeaten stablemate Urban Icon, while Phoenix Thoroughbred's debut winner Magic J, Great Scot and Group race winners Hello Youmzain and Mohaather are other notable contenders.

Boitron is the new favourite for the Greenham at NewburyCredit: Mark Cranham

Elsewhere on the Newbury card, a wide-open Fred Darling Stakes has attracted 16 runners, the biggest field since 2009.

Aidan O'Brien sends over So Perfect, who placed in two juvenile Group 1s last season, with Star Terms, Dancing Vega, Muchly and Dandhu among the sizeable Group 3 field.

The Roger Varian-trained Defoe faces nine rivals as he attempts to win the John Porter Stakes for the second year. Young Rascal ended his campaign with two wins at Newbury, the second a dead-heat, and is in opposition, as is Laraaib and last year's Melbourne Cup runner-up Marmelo.

Splints The lowdown

What is the splint bone?

There are two splint bones in each leg, running down either side of the large cannon bone between the knee and fetlock (or hock and fetlock on the hind leg).

Early ancestors of the horse had five toes, but as they evolved gradually lost the outside two digits. A horse's splint bones are the remnants of the second and fourth digits.

Why can they cause problems?

When a trainer says a horse has 'thrown a splint' or has heat in a splint bone, it is usually because the ligament connecting the cannon bone and splint bone has become inflamed, which can cause heat, pain and swelling around the area – most commonly on the inside of a forelimb.

Occasionally the splint bone may be damaged due to blunt external trauma, such as striking the inside of one leg with the hoof of the other, or a kick from another horse.

How are they treated?

In the majority of cases, with rest and anti-inflammatory therapy such as cold compresses/cold hosing, and if necessary anti-inflammatory medication such as bute – however, the drug must be out of the horse's system before they run again, which is seven days under BHA guidelines.

Fortunately, common issues relating to splints are unlikely to cause any long-term problems.
Katherine Fidler

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