DERBY disappointment Young Rascal will not be heading to Royal Ascot, trainer William Haggas has confirmed.
The future looked bright for the three-year-old after victory in the Chester Vase, but a lacklustre performance in the Epsom showpiece has encouraged his trainer to be patient.
The son of Intello was strongly fancied by many before the Derby after winning his trial on the Roodee in impressive fashion.
However, the colt trailed in nearly seventeen lengths behind eventual winner Masar, and fifteen lengths behind Dee Ex Bee, a horse that he had already beaten at Chester.
At the time, it appeared the idiosyncratic track might have been the reason for such a lethargic performance, but his trainer is unconvinced.
Haggas said: “I’ve no idea what happened, to be perfectly honest. He didn’t race on the day and it was very disappointing, but we live to fight another day.
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The trainer added: “He won’t be going to Ascot. That race (King Edward VII Stakes) has been a graveyard for Derby horses, so we’ll give it a miss.
“He’s OK. He’s hasn’t been eating as much grub as usual, but he’s sound, which is the main thing.
“We’ll see how he is in the next couple of weeks and plan from there.”
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