Nathaniel on the mend after setback John Gosden has reported Nathaniel to be "much brighter" after the star colt was ruled out of Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe earlier this week. The dual Group 1 winner was considered a major contender for the Longchamp feature this weekend, but he was found to have a temperature on Tuesday morning. A subsequent blood test proved unsatisfactory, and connections had little option but to withdraw him from the race. However Gosden is much happier with his stable star after observing him this morning, and hopes another blood test on Saturday will show he is recovering. Gosden said: "He's been out this morning and seems much brighter and happier in himself. "He'll have another test on Saturday and hopefully things will be back to normal. I am certainly much happier with him now than earlier in the week." A clash with the brilliant Frankel in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 20 would seem the most likely target for Nathaniel, but Gosden is in no rush to commit to future plans. He said: "We'll take things one day at a time."
