Trainer John Oxx has been forced to rule the colt out of the first Classic of the season after he found him to be lame.

Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Jaber Abdullah, said: "It was a bit of a shock when John told me.

"He'll be fine in the long-term and he'll only miss a week but it's enough to force him out of the Guineas unfortunately."

A five-length winner of a Leopardstown maiden in September, he was beaten in the Beresford Stakes on his last start at two when he was reportedly unsuited by the testing ground.

Derby Dream

Raymond added that although the sun of Dubawi still had the option of the Guineas up until this setback, Oxx had always viewed him more as a Derby horse.

"It's only a strain, it's nothing serious, but John thought it better not to run in the Guineas," he continued.

"Anyway, he's always thought the Derby would be more his race, even last year.

"The plan now is to run him in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial. That's the tried and tested route for a lot of the Irish Derby horses.

"It's a shame but there we go. He'd been a bit worried about him for the last few days and now we know where we stand."