Rain deprives Gold Cup of Time Test

Time Test has been declared a non-runner in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on Sunday.

Roger Charlton has won the prestigious prize in recent years with his former stable stalwart Al Kazeem (2013 and 2015) and was due to be represented this weekend by last year's impressive Tercentenary Stakes winner, owned by Khalid Abdullah.

However, heavy rain at the Curragh on Saturday scuppered those plans.

Charlton tweeted: "Time Test will not be running in the Tattersalls Gold Cup tomorrow @curraghrace due to the softening ground."

Aidan O'Brien, meanwhile, believes Found is developing into "something very special" ahead.

A Group One-winning juvenile, the daughter of Galileo endured a slightly frustrating start to her Classic campaign last year, suffering narrow defeats in both the Irish 1,000 Guineas on this card 12 months ago and in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.

However, she rounded off her season with a brilliant victory over Derby and Arc hero Golden Horn in the Breeders' Cup Turf and while she suffered a shock defeat on her return to action, she righted that wrong in the Mooresbridge Stakes three weeks ago.

O'Brien said: " She seems to be in good form since her last run. We've been happy with her.

"Obviously she hasn't done a lot, she doesn't do a lot, but she seems to be in good form.

"The plan was to give her two runs before the Tattersalls Gold Cup.

"The first day she just did plenty in soft ground. She let go towards the end of the race.

"The next day we knew she had progressed and the thing was to let her relax again and she did.

"We are seeing what she is starting to turn into now. She is starting to turn into something very special."

The Ballydoyle maestro is understandably keen to see how his filly performs this weekend before committing to future targets, but already has one eye on a trip to Paris in October.

"After the Tattersalls Gold Cup, we have the option of either the Coronation Cup or the Prince of Wales's Stakes," O'Brien added.

"After that she will have a break and be trained for the autumn with the Arc in mind."

Fascinating Rock beat Found in last season's Champion Stakes at Ascot, but that form was reversed in the Mooresbridge, with Dermot Weld's charge finishing third.

Jockey Pat Smullen expects Fascinating Rock to strip fitter for the run and hopes his big-race mount can at least close the gap.

He said: " I'm looking forward to it and he seems in great form at home.

"Hopefully he'll improve for his run in the Mooresbridge, you would have expect to him do.

"It's a tough race. Found is a very good filly and looks the main opposition.

"There's also Time Test and The Grey Gatsby in there, so it's a a very high-class race."

Weld also saddles likely pacemaker The Steward.

The Kevin Ryan-trained The Grey Gatsby was fourth in last year's renewal before running tremendous races in the Prince of Wales's Stakes, the Coral-Eclipse and the Juddmonte International.

Ken Condon's Mooresbridge Stakes runner-up Success Days, the Jessica Harrington-trained Bocca Baciata and Hot Sauce from John Murphy's yard complete the field.