Derby favourite a major doubt

Sir Michael Stoute and Kieren Fallon with King's Best

Derby favourite King's Best is a major doubt for the big race on Saturday after suffering a recurrence of a muscle problem.

The 2000 Guineas winner will have intense treatment on his back in a bid to make the Epsom showpiece but is already being written off by the bookies.

King's Best, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, was being tipped to become the first horse since Nashwan in 1989 to win both the 2000 Guineas and Derby in the same year.

Jockey Kieren Fallon was upbeat about his chances and confident of emulating last year's success on Oath.

Now it looks as though the champion jockey will be without a ride for the big race.

With King's Best facing an 11th-hour exit, Beat Hollow has been installed as the new favourite.

Kieren Fallon and Oath

The Henry Cecil-trained horse already has plenty of backers, among them jockey John Reid.

"I have seen Beat Hollow in action and I have the feeling, judging by the way he worked, that he is unbeatable if he stays the trip," he said.

A decision on King's Best's participation in the Vodafone Derby will be made on Friday morning.

"King's Best galloped this morning," said Stoute on Thursday." An examination late in the morning showed him to be dragging his left hind toe when trotting.

"A decision on his participation in the Derby will be made tomorrow morning."

Betting suspended

Bookmakers Ladbrokes and William Hill both suspended betting on the Derby on rumours about King's Best's wellbeing, with each subsequently issuing revised prices without Fallon's mount.

Stoute is no stranger to late setbacks. Four years ago his Dr Massini was favourite for the Derby only to suffer a foot injury which forced his withdrawal three days before the race.

In 1997, Singspiel suffered a career-ending injury two days ahead of the Breeders' Cup Turf at Hollywood Park, for which he was market leader.