Hemingway pulled out of Trophy

Hemingway, the 13-8 ante-post favourite for the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster on Saturday, misses the race. Aidan O'Brien, his trainer said: "Hemingway had a little bit of heat in his hock at evening stables yesterday. It's nothing serious but we've decided to leave him off for the season."

Hemingway, the 13-8 ante-post favourite for the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster on Saturday, misses the race. Aidan O'Brien, his trainer said: "Hemingway had a little bit of heat in his hock at evening stables yesterday. It's nothing serious but we've decided to leave him off for the season."

O'Brien, who had 12 of the 20 entries in the Group One contest at the five-day stage, added: "Freud is a probable runner; King Charlemagne, Darwin and Bonnard are all possibles. But - like Hemingway - Beckett, Mozart and Black Minnaloushe have been left off until next season. King's County is going to France on Sunday week for the Criterium de Saint-Cloud, Honours List goes for the Gran Criterium in Milan on Sunday and Turnberry Isle goes for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile."

Freud, a full-brother to Giant's Causeway, finished a two-and-a-half-length fifth to Tobougg in last Saturday's Dewhurst Stakes under Jamie Spencer. The jockey was clearly impressed, as O'Brien added: "Jamie liked him a lot and he said they wouldn't beat him again." Irish bookmakers Cashmans now make the Richard Hannon-trained Tamburlaine favourite at 5-2.

Mick Channon is to lose Tobougg to Godolphin. The Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum-owned colt, the winner of the Prix de la Salamandre and the Dewhurst Stakes, is second favourite for next year's 2,000 Guineas. Channon said: "Sheikh Ahmed and Sheikh Mohammed have decided Tobougg will spend the winter in Dubai and will return next year to race under Godolphin. Tobougg is clearly an extremely good horse."

John Dunlop's Orchestra Stall and San Sebastian are among eight British acceptors for the Prix Royal-Oak (the French St Leger) at Longchamp on Sunday. Also standing their ground are Rainbow High, Vicious Circle, Royal Rebel, Marienbard, Rada's Daughter and Riddlesdown.

Kalanisi and Montjeu, first and second in last Saturday's Champion Stakes, head the European entries for the Japan Cup in Tokyo on 26 November. Giant's Causeway, also entered in that turf race, has the inaugural running of the Japan Cup Dirt, which is run 24 hours earlier, as first preference.

The Japan Cup has a first prize of £1,484,296, with £771,834 going to the winner of the Japan Cup Dirt. The Japan Racing Association will announce the names of the 10 invited overseas horses for the Japan Cup and the six for the Japan Cup Dirt on 6 November. 11 British-trained horses have been entered in the Japan Cup. They are Arctic Owl (trained by James Fanshawe), Daliapour (Sir Michael Stoute), Ela Athena (Michael Jarvis), Fantastic Light (Saeed bin Suroor), Fruits Of Love (Mark Johnston), Golden Snake (John Dunlop), Greek Dance (Stoute), Kalanisi (Stoute), Murghem (Johnston), Mutafaweq (bin Suroor) and Mutamam (Alec Stewart). Fruits Of Love is also entered for the dirt race along with Stoute's Little Rock.

Best Mate, impressive winner on his chasing debut at Exeter on Tuesday, may have just two more runs before tackling the Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy (Novices') Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on 13 March. The Henrietta Knight-trained five-year-old was one of last season's leading novice hurdlers with a victory at Aintree and two second places in Grade One events to his credit. Knight said yesterday: "He won't run many times. His aim is the Arkle Chase and everything is geared up to Cheltenham. He may only have two runs before then." Coral quote Best Mate at 6-1 for the Arkle.

Lord Noelie, who won last season's Royal & SunAlliance (Novices') Chase at the Festival for Miss Knight's stable, is set to reappear in the Desert Orchid South Western Pattern Chase at Wincanton on Sunday if the ground is good.

Inn At The Top will reappear in the £80,000 Thomas Pink Gold Cup at Cheltenham on 11 November. Trainer Jim Turner, based at Helperby in North Yorkshire, said: "Inn At The Top is an intended runner - if he can get his favoured good ground."

Today, in the event of overnight rain, the stewards at Newcastle will hold an inspection at 7.45am to determine whether this afternoon's card can go ahead.

Joe Walsh, Irish Minister for Agriculture, meets a delegation from the Irish Turf Club today in a bid to sort out the proposed merger in Irish racing.

RACING POST TROPHY (Doncaster Saturday) : Cashmans: 5-2 Tamburlaine, 4-1 King Charlemagne, 9-2 Darwin, 11-2 Freud, 6-1 Grandera, 10-1 Cd Europe, 12-1 Bonnard, 16-1 Dayglow Dancer, 25-1 Cauvery.