Cliffs a long shot for Breeders' Cup

Richard Hannon junior believes the prospect of Canford Cliffs running at the Breeders' Cup is a "long shot".

The Hannon camp were dealt a hammer blow with the news that the triple Group One winner would have to miss Saturday's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.

Despite reports of a scintillating gallop on Wednesday morning, the Sussex Stakes winner produced an unsatisfactory scope just hours before declaration time on Thursday morning.

"Basically he hasn't scoped 100% and we took advice from our vet, Mick O'Gorman, and he said with a horse like him you can't take the risk," said Hannon junior, son and assistant to his father, Richard.

"It's hard enough in those races without going there at 100%.

"It's a massive shame obviously, and it might cost us the trainers' championship but there you go. If the horse isn't right he can't run.

"It's a massive blow to the race in fact, Makfi, Rip Van Winkle and our lad would have been a hell of a race.

"I think it will clear up in a few days. At the end of the day he hasn't broken down, it's a massive shame we are not going to get to the race on Saturday but we are still looking at other options at the end of the year and if that doesn't pan out we'll put him away until next year.

"There is the Breeders' Cup but that is a long shot, it is something that has always been in the back of our mind and we might have a look at the race but we'll obviously have to discuss it," he told At The Races.

Following Canford Cliffs' withdrawal a field of eight will go to post, with Cape Blanco and Rio De La Plata other notable absentees.

While Cape Blanco will wait for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Aidan O'Brien can still call on 2009 winner Rip Van Winkle, the mount of Johnny Murtagh, and last year's Dewhurst scorer Beethoven, who is set to be ridden by Ryan Moore again.

Air Chief Marshal will also represent Ballydoyle.

Godolphin supplemented Poet's Voice on Monday for the race and he is due to be Frankie Dettori's partner on the anniversary of his Magnificent Seven.

Pat Eddery's Group One winner Hearts Of Fire will be looking to put a disappointing display at Salisbury behind him in the hands of Robert Winston.

Despite airing concerns earlier in the week, David Simcock has declared the six-year-old Bushman while Red Jazz will run for Barry Hills.

All eyes will be on 2000 Guineas winner Makfi though, with Mikel Delzangles' colt below-par on his previous trip to Ascot back in June when he was reportedly ill.

He bounced back in style from that lacklustre effort last month when showing exactly what he was made of in the Prix Jacques le Marois.

He had 10-time Group One-winner Goldikova two and a half lengths behind him with Paco Boy a neck further back and he will be looking to sign off his campaign in Europe in style.

Following the news that Canford Cliffs will not be running, Coral now make Makfi their 4-5 favourite.

"We'd been keen to take on Canford Cliffs all week as we felt he faced his toughest task yet up against his 2000 Guineas conqueror, Makfi, as well as last year's QEII winner, Rip Van Winkle," said Coral's David Stevens.

"The market suggested that Makfi could well have started favourite on Saturday anyway, but it's still extremely disappointing that the eagerly-anticipated showdown between the trio will not now take place," said Coral's David Stevens.

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored by Sony) - Coral bet: 4-5 Makfi, 2-1 Rip Van Winkle, 9-1 Poet's Voice, 12-1 Hearts Of Fire, 16-1 Beethoven, 66-1 Red Jazz, Bushman, Air Chief Marshal.