Derby 'unlikely' for Toronado Richard Hannon Junior has confirmed Toronado is set to swerve the Investec Derby and wait for Royal Ascot. A brilliant winner of the Craven Stakes, he was a leading fancy for Saturday's QIPCO 2000 Guineas but could finish only fourth behind Dawn Approach. Hannon Junior told At The Races: "Plans are on hold and I'd say the Derby is unlikely. We'll probably have to wait for Royal Ascot but whether that's the Jersey or the St James's Palace we'll have to wait and see." Connections were left puzzled by the performance at Newmarket and hope an explanation for the run is found in the coming days. "His work had been absolutely top class and we all thought he was going to run extremely well but in the last 100 yards he was legless. 50 yards more and he'd have finished nearly last," the assistant trainer added. "Clearly there was something wrong with him. He travelled with the revs a bit high through the race and didn't finish it but we'll look at him over today and tomorrow and see if we find something amiss, and in a strange way I hope we do. "I know he's capable of much better than that, from the way he works at home. The way he finished his race in the Craven he should have stayed the trip on Saturday better than he did. We just need to find out why he didn't."
