Leading Vodafone Derby fancy Beat Hollow has been confirmed as remaining on course for the race despite suffering a setback that will rule him out of an intended outing at York next week.
A statement from trainer Henry Cecil earlier today confirmed that both Beat Hollow and Bien Entendu would miss York next week, leading to doubts that the pair would be ready for Epsom.
He told PA Sport: "Beat Hollow and Bien Entendu on scoping were found to have mucus in their lungs.
"With treatment the problem will be cleared up in a few days, but unfortunately, neither will be able to run at York in the Glasgow or the Dante."
But Teddy Beckett, racing manager to Beat Hollow's owner Khaled Abdulla revealed that alternative races at Doncaster and Goodwood are being considered for the colt's preparation.
Beckett said: "We scoped him and it was only slightly cloudy on the scope. With any luck it ought to be cleared up in the next few days.
"He came out of his race really well at Newmarket last week and we hadn't plan to work him until this Saturday.
"We are extremely hopeful of him still getting to the Derby but we would like him to have another race before Epsom.
"He's only had two races and ideally you would want him to go to the Derby as well prepared mentally and physically as he can be."
Two possible races remain for Beat Hollow with the choice lying between the Compass UK Leisure Predominate Stakes at Goodwood on May 23rd or the Rifle Butts Stakes at Doncaster four days later.
Beckett confirmed that Khaled Abdulla will not now have a runner in the Dante Stakes.
Ladbrokes amended their Derby betting and have pushed out Beat Hollow to 7-1 from 5-1 and deleted Bien Entendu, who had been a 20-1 chance, from their list.
Aidan O'Brien's Derby plans will become clearer after this weekend when he intends to run Apollo Victoria in the Victor Chandler Derby Trial at Lingfield on Saturday, Bach in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown and Ciro in the Prix Lupin on the French Guineas card, both on Sunday.
Ladbrokes bet: 3-1 Kings Best, 7 Beat Hollow (from 5s), 12-1 Aristotle, 14-1 Wellbeing, 16-1 River's Curtain, Sandmason, 20-1 bar.
