Godolphin's hopes of winning the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes for the fifth time in six years were dealt a blow yesterday when Kayf Tara had to be retired because of injury.

The dual Gold Cup winner, one of the principal players in the Godolphin success story, suffered a recurrence of the suspensory injury that forced him out of last year's Melbourne Cup.

Sheikh Mohammed's Dubai operation must now pin its hopes on Fantastic Light - one of eight horses standing their ground - in tomorrow's Ascot middle-distance spectacular. The colt will be ridden by John Reid, who had originally been pencilled in for Kayf Tara.

Compton Ace and Gold Academy, both outsiders in the antepost betting, were also taken out at yesterday's final acceptance stage.

The absence of Kayf Tara has further strengthened the cause of French ace Montjeu, who is offered at 8 to 13 by the British Tote.

Leading the opposition is the Aga Khan's Daliapour who is bidding to give Sir Michael Stoute his first success in the race since Opera House in 1993. The trainer has a second string to his bow in Beat All.

The Aga Khan is also represented by Raypour, trained by John Oxx, who will presumably act as pacemaker. Fruits Of Love was given the all-clear by his trainer Mark Johnston yesterday. The five-year-old had been suffering from a leg injury that had put his participation in doubt.

Henry Cecil, last successful in the race with King's Theatre in 1994, has left Shiva in the race. But the trainer has warned in the past that the mare must have cut in the ground if she is to perform to her best.

The field is completed by the Japanese raider Air Shakur.