Defending Dubai World Cup champion Laurel River will not be able to defend his title on April 5, with connections confirming that he will not be fit in time for the race.

The Juddmonte-owned seven-year-old, who shared the Horse of the Year title with City Of Troy in 2023, delivered a dominant eight-and-a-half-length victory in last year’s Dubai World Cup. However, he has struggled to recapture that form, missing the remainder of 2023 and suffering a shock defeat at Meydan in January when beaten at odds of 4-11 in a Group 3 event.

A subsequent setback forced him out of the Saudi Cup, and trainer Bhupat Seemar has now confirmed that there is not enough time to get him ready for Dubai’s flagship race.

> Seemar said: "Laurel River is doing very good, but after his last gallop, we realize that there won't be enough time to get him fit for a race of this calibre. Juddmonte decided to give him the time, and he can come back for the Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup in 2026."

With Laurel River sidelined, Saudi Cup winner Forever Young has emerged as the clear frontrunner for the Dubai World Cup, currently priced as the 5-6 favorite to complete a historic double.