Blue Goblin is bad for Trophy backers

Punters who had backed Blue Goblin ante-post for Saturday's William Hill Trophy lost out yesterday when it was announced that the grey will wait for Royal Ascot. Luca Cumani's sprinter had been quoted as the 5- 4 hot favourite by the sponsors of the York race.

A spokeswoman for Cum-ani's stable said: "Sheikh Mohammed has decided that he would like to see Blue Goblin run at Royal Ascot and he will now run in the Cork & Orrery Stakes."

However, the stable may yet have a runner in the shape of Yorkie George who will run "provided that the ground is on the soft side of good".

Whether Classic Cliche runs at Ascot depends on a gallop on Saturday. Last year's Ascot Gold Cup winner will work at Newmarket.

The five-year-old flopped when finishing last on his Yorkshire Cup comeback but is among a provisional list of 10 Godolphin-owned horses for next week's Royal meeting. His connections stress that he will take his chance only if he "pleases" them in the gallop.