Derby cloud gathers over Luxembourg after gallops setback for O’Brien

Luxembourg, the clear favourite for the Derby since his running-on third in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, could miss the Classic at Epsom on 4 June after suffering a setback on the gallops, Aidan O’Brien, the colt’s trainer, said on Friday.

“Luxembourg was just a little bit lame on his off-hind this morning after cantering,” O’Brien said. “We’re not sure why just yet, but wanted to let people know with the Derby coming soon. In a couple of days, we’ll hopefully know a bit more and will issue a further update.”

Luxembourg was a 5-2 chance for the Derby on Friday morning but drifted to 6-1 after news of his setback emerged.

His stable companion Changingoftheguard, who finished six-and-a-half lengths clear of Charlie Appleby’s highly-rated New London in the Chester Vase on Wednesday, is 6-1 (from 10-1) while Walk Of Stars, a runner in the Derby Trial at Lingfield on Saturday, and Piz Badile, the winner of the Ballysax Stakes in April, are both available at 7-1.

O’Brien runs United Nations, currently 50-1 for the Derby, in Lingfield’s Epsom trial on Saturday, and Stone Age (14-1 for the Classic) in the Group Three Derby Trial at Leopardstown the following afternoon.

The Classic trials at Lingfield on Saturday afternoon will offer a few more pieces of the puzzle before the Derby and Oaks at Epsom next month, but a more immediate priority for many punters will be an annual attempt to find the winner of the Victoria Cup at Ascot, one of the most competitive Flat handicaps of the season.

A double-figure draw has been vital in the last decade, and Vafortino, who joined Kevin Philippart de Foy from Joseph O’Brien’s stable over the winter, is interesting from 27 after a promising return in March, while 33-1 shot Royal Pleasure