Racing: George Washington looks almost certain to miss the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.
The mercurial four-year-old was a brilliant winner of the mile contest 12 months ago, beating his Irish 2000 Guineas conqueror Araafa with ease.
But his trainer Aidan O'Brien had four other possibles at the five-day stage and the Ballydoyle handler is set to rely on St James's Palace Stakes winner Excellent Art and Irish Champion Stakes runner-up Duke Of Marmalade.
O'Brien confirmed this evening: "Excellent Art and Duke Of Marmalade are probably going to run in the QEII on Saturday and George Washington is probably not going to run.
"Mick Kinane will ride Duke of Marmalade and Jamie Spencer will ride Excellent Art.
"We will have another look over the next couple of days and make a decision over George Washington for the rest of the season."
Bookmakers had suspended betting on the Group One contest earlier following speculation over the participation of George Washington.
William Hill now make Prix du Moulin heroine Darjina favourite ahead of Ramonti, with the Alain de Royer-Dupre-trained filly having beaten both Godolphin's runner and George Washington at Longchamp.
Spokesman David Hood said: "We have issued revised odds for the QEII following continued speculation that ante-post favourite George Washington is likely to sit out the long-anticipated rematch between himself, Ramonti and Darjina.
"In fairness George has been very easy to back all week but it will be a disappointment to those punters who were savouring the competitiveness of the race."