Golden Horn will not run in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot this afternoon, said trainer John Gosden.

There had been a question mark over his participation in the great race after a deluge of rainfall on Friday.

And after having walked the track before the meeting was due to begin, Gosden felt conditions had gone against the Derby and Coral-Eclipse hero.

The Clarehaven handler said: “Where we are standing on the straight course, this ground is fine, and will ride good to soft.

“But where they are running over a mile and a half, it runs down into Swinley Bottom — and it’s not called that for nothing.

“On that part of the course, my stick was going in 10 or 12 inches and it’s holding ground there.

“He’s a horse with an enormous amount of speed and is an incredible athlete.

“You’re asking him to be nearly a St Leger horse to go on that (ground) today.”

Golden Horn is now likely to run in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York on August 19.

Gosden said: “It does not make sense bottoming him out in ground like that and stretching his stamina.

“We are frustrated, but I have left it as late as I can.

“It would be wrong to ask this sort of question in the middle of the season — if it was his last run it would be a different matter.

“We would look towards York as he is full of himself and ready to go.

“I think we will go there and take it from there.”