Wednesday 2 August 2017 17:21, UK
Aidan O'Brien is in no rush to commit Churchill to future targets after ruling him out of the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood due to the rain-softened ground.
The dual 2000 Guineas hero disappointed in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, but was due to take on his elders for the first time on Wednesday afternoon.
However, after checking on the ever-deteriorating conditions, O'Brien made the difficult decision to withdraw his three-year-old less than an hour before the off time.
He said: "It's extreme out there now. There are other races coming up for him, but I've no idea where he will go. It depends if the lads want to stay at a mile or step him up to a mile and a quarter.
"If he stays at a mile he will go to France (Prix Jacques le Marois, August 13), if he steps up to a mile and a quarter he will go for the Juddmonte (International, at York on August 23).
"We came here wanting to run and we're very disappointed that we're not running.
"The year is long and hopefully there'll be other chances. The ground didn't walk too bad when we walked it, but there was a lot of water on top of it and it was loose and sloppy.
"It's probably going to get near heavy as they must have had nearly an inch of rain."
