Racing: Jim Bolger's New Approach has been forced to miss this afternoon's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh through injury.
News first broke of the setback on Friday evening when the Coolcullen handler revealed that the son of Galileo had a foot bruise.
Bolger gave the colt as much time as possible to recover and on Saturday there was still a chance that the three-year-old could bid to emulate High Chaparral who was the last horse to complete the English-Irish Derby double in 2002.
However, Bolger, who is in the midst of an incredible season, had to take the tough decision to pull New Approach out.
"New Approach does not run," said Bolger. "Obviously it is disappointing but these things happen in racing.
"We have no idea where he will go next. It will have to be discussed with the owners."
Bolger is enjoying his best ever season to date but the news will still come as a hammer blow.
As well as the Derby at Epsom Bolger has won the Ribblesdale and Coronation Stakes with Lush Lashes and the Albany Stakes with Cuis Ghaire in England alone, before taking into account victories in his homeland.
For New Approach, plenty of big prizes will still be on his agenda.
Races such as the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, the Juddmonte International at York and the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown will all now surely come under consideration.
In some relief for punters Paddy Power are to return all ante-post bets on New Approach.
Paddy Power, spokesman for the firm, said: "It doesn't seem right that punters do their dough on the morning of the big race so we're giving them their money back.
"We were out to lay New Approach all along because we thought we might get him beaten, not because we thought he wouldn't run.
"It's a shame that we wont see the Epsom re-match."