O'Brien considering options after Kyprios setback

Aidan O'Brien is considering Plan B for his staying challenge this term, with reigning champion Kyprios a major doubt to defend his Gold Cup title at Royal Ascot.

The five-year-old carried all before him in the marathon division last season, winning each of six starts, including the Ascot showpiece, the Goodwood Cup, Irish St Leger and a tremendous 20-length success in the Prix du Cadran, achieved despite hanging badly across the track.

O'Brien revealed on Sunday Kyprios had suffered a setback, and he expanded on his injury issue when speaking to visiting media at his yard on Monday.

He said: "I don't think Kyprios is going to make the Gold Cup. He got a little bit of a joint and it's not settling down. We will just have to wait and see. It's one of those things.

"It happened a month ago and it's just not settled - sometimes these things can settle very quickly and sometimes they don't. He got an inner infection inside in the joint and it had to be flushed and then there was more infection, so it had to be flushed a second time."

If as seems likely Kyprios does miss out, O'Brien has identified some possible deputies, headed by Emily Dickinson - winner of the Loughbrown Stakes when upped to two miles on her final start last term.

Saturday's Dubai Gold Cup winner Broome is another contender, along with Changingoftheguard, who won the King Edward VII Stakes at Ascot when last seen.

He added: "Emily Dickinson, Broome, Changingoftheguard is a possible - even though we probably won't make a decision (yet).

"We were very impressed with Emily at the Curragh, she grew another leg when she went to two miles. I'm not sure whether Broome will stretch out that far (two and a half miles at Ascot), but you'd imagine he'll be very happy at