Chrome to miss Royal Ascot

California Chrome will miss the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot with a bruised foot.

The colt has now been assessed and no risks will be taken over the fitness of the four-year-old, who just missed out on the Triple Crown in America last year.

California Chrome has been lodging at the base of trainer Rae Guest in Newmarket and it did not look too promising for the Art Sherman-trained star ahead of the start of the Royal meeting.

Before the horse was officially withdrawn on Tuesday, Guest said: “We don’t know how he did it. He was fine yesterday (Monday). He had a canter in front of me, Art and Alan (Sherman) and he came in sound, while he was fine last night. This morning when he walked out he was sore.

“It is a shame for everyone involved as he had been working really well, but these things happen in racing.”

Free Eagle is the current ante-post favourite for this year’s Prince of Wales’s Stakes.