Sunday 29 March 2015 11:13, UK
Kingston Hill's early-season preparations have been derailed by injury, trainer Roger Varian has reported.
The Ladbrokes St Leger winner has sustained a leg problem but will still be campaigned with the conditional aim of running in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in the autumn.
Kingston Hill finished fourth in the Arc last year but firstly needs time to recover.
The Newmarket handler told www.varianstable.com: "Kingston Hill will miss the first half of the season due to a setback.
"He has sustained a superficial injury to his left fore. He is sound but sore.
"He has an area of significant bruising and inflammation which will take time to settle.
"It goes without saying that this is an early-season blow as he looks so well and has been training better than ever.
"We will now target the top middle-distance races later in the season with all roads leading back to Longchamp in October for another crack at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe."
