Borderlescott's Prix de l'Abbaye hopes still alive

The eight-year-old gelding appeared to damage his near hindquarters when winning the Audi King George Stakes at Goodwood last week.

He was taken to Arundel Veterinary Centre where he underwent a full examination and it is now thought he had tweaked a muscle. He will return to trainer Robin Bastiman's Wetherby stables today.

Although unable to attempt to win the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York for the third successive year later this month, a trip to France for the Abbaye at Longchamp on 3 October could be back on the agenda.

"He seems OK. There's no fractures there and he's sound at the moment so we'll just go steady away with him," said Bastiman.

"He might even run again this year. We'll just weigh that up as he starts back in training. I think he's just tweaked a muscle or something like that somewhere in the back. When they scanned him the near side of his hip was warmer than the other, but nothing too serious. We're just going to go steady away with him and see what happens.

"We'll know a bit more after we've had him a couple of weeks. He'll tell us whether he's right. There's a possibility he might be able to run in the Prix de l'Abbaye or something like that maybe."

Meanwhile, Equiano is reported to be in great heart ahead of the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York on 20 August. The Barry Hills-trained star has shown himself to be as good as ever this season with three victories, including the King's Stand Stakes, as well as finishing second to Starspangledbanner in the July Cup. "The plan for him is to go for the Nunthorpe. He ran a very good race in the July Cup," said Hills' son and assistant Charlie. "He's come out of the race in great form. He's done the best bit of work he's done all year, so we are really looking forward to York."