Listen, one of the leading ante-post fancies for the Stan James 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket next month, will miss the classic. The Aidan O'Brien-trained filly has suffered a setback and is also likely to miss the Oaks.

The daughter of Sadler's Wells was slightly stiff when setting off on a canter on Monday morning and will be out of action for a month. O'Brien said: “That means she will miss the 1,000 Guineas and it is unlikely that she will make the Oaks.

“Hopefully we will have her back for the second half of the season.”

Muthabara, now 5-1 joint-favourite with William Hill in Listen's absence, will have a prep race next week. Trained by John Dunlop, she is owned by Sheikh Hamdan al-Maktoum.

“She's showing plenty of speed and, all being well, we're aiming to run her in one of the trials next week and then take it from there,” Angus Gold, Sheikh Hamdan's racing manager, said yesterday.