Youmzain will miss the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot and Winker Watson leaves Peter Chapple-Hyam for Brian Meehan and Manton.
Youmzain…
Mick Channon’s charge was set to wear a visor for the first-time in the Group One showpiece but was found to have a swollen near-fore joint on Thursday morning. He will miss The King George at Ascot as a result.
The trainer told his website, www.mickchannon.tv: “The horse isn’t lame but there’s swelling round the joint and we can’t take any chances. X-rays taken on the leg showed nothing for us to get worried about, and he’ll hopefully be back later in the year.”
Winker Watson now trained at Manton..
Winker Watson…
Peter Chapple-Hyam says there is no ill-feeling after the classy but frustrating Winker Watson was moved from his stable to Brian Meehan.
The winner of the Norfolk and July Stakes as a two-year-old, the chestnut suffered an interrupted 2008 and now looks a husk of his former self, beating a total of only three horses home in his three starts this season.
Chapple-Hyam has maintained Winker Watson works exceptionally on the gallops but has been unable to figure out why he does not replicate this on the racecourse and owners The Comic Strip Heroes have decided to send him to Manton for a change of scene.
“It was my suggestion to move him,” explained Chapple-Hyam. “You have to do what is best for the horse, not what is best for yourself.”
Good luck to Brian Meehan!
