Magician may not make Royal Ascot

Stubbs heads two year old team

Magician, ridden by Joseph OBrien, comes home to win the the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas last month at the Curragh. Photograph: Inpho
Magician, ridden by Joseph OBrien, comes home to win the the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas last month at the Curragh. Photograph: Inpho

Aidan O'Brien will make a call tomorrow on whether his Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Magician will line up against Dawn Approach in Tuesday's St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot after the colt sustained a knock on Thursday. If he can't run, Mars is on standby to step in.

A Coolmore Stud statement said: "Magician sustained minor bruising after receiving a knock. Aidan is very happy with Magician today and he is 100 per cent sound . . . Should he not run, Mars will take his place and in the event of that happening Indian Chief will run in the Tercentenary."

Running plans for O'Brien's juvenile team next week also took shape and the statement added: "Stubbs, Sir John Hawkins and War Command are all probables for the Coventry and Fountain Of Youth goes for the Windsor Castle. Bye Bye Birdie runs in Mallow on Sunday after which a decision will be made on the Queen Mary. Coach House is a probable for the Norfolk Stakes and Wonderfully is likely to represent us in the Albany. We plan to run both Friendship and Adeste Fideles in the Chesham Stakes."

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column