The team bring you the major racing news on Wednesday.

Ombudsman set to swerve Irish Champion Stakes

John and Thady Gosden's star middle-distance performer will not travel to Ireland for the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes as connections instead prepare to freshen him up for an exciting international campaign.

Having lost his unbeaten record to Delacroix in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown earlier in the season, Ombudsman readily levelled the scores with a commanding three-and-a-half length success over Aidan O'Brien's charge in the Juddmonte International at York last month.

The duo had been set for a much-anticipated third clash at Leopardstown next weekend but connections of the Godolphin-owned four-year-old have revealed that they will not make the trip, with Ombudsman now set to make his next start in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 18th before potential trips abroad to contest Breeders' Cup Turf and Japan Cup.

Super Soumillon ruled out for Lazy Griff ride

Leading French rider Christophe Soumillon will not partner Charlie Johnston's St Leger contender Lazy Griff at Doncaster on Saturday 13th.

The pair filled the runner-up spot behind Lambourn in this season's Epsom Derby but instead of heading to Doncaster, Soumillon now looks set to ride at Leopardstown for the opening day of the Irish Champions Festival.

Soumillon currently looks in line to pick up some plumb spare rides for Ballydoyle handler Aidan O'Brien, who revealed on Monday that the Belgian-born jockey will be at the forefront of his riding plans whilst Ryan Moore sits on the sideline with a stress fracture to his femur.

Potential rides for Soumillon over the course of the week could include Coral-Eclipse hero Delacroix, with the talented three-year-old now likely to be a warm order for the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes after connections revealed that his Juddmonte International conqueror Ombudsman would not make the trip, while January remains firmly in contention for the Matron Stakes.

Merchant to miss remainder of the season

William Haggas has revealed that his highly-promising three-year-old Merchant will miss the remainder of the season due to a setback.

The Highclere Thoroughbred Racing-owned three-year-old, who backed up a commanding Royal Ascot success with a gritty victory in the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at a

gloomy Glorious Goodwood, had been set to test his Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe credentials in the 'win-and-you're-in' Prix Niel this Sunday.

However, his name failed to feature among the eleven confirmations that were made on Wednesday morning.

Rain claims Salisbury's Dick Poole card

Salisbury have been forced to abandon tomorrow's feature Dick Poole meeting for a second successive year due to waterlogging.

The course failed a 9am inspection Wednesday morning following a torrential downpour, leaving Salisbury's clerk of the course Jeremy Martin disappointed for another season.

He told the PA "The abandonment is a great disappointment to everyone here and it is actually the second year in a row we have lost our main meeting of the season.

"It is of a consequence of around 60mm of rain in the last six days and of course we raced on Friday August 29 on ground that was practically soft."

The Dick Poole Stakes, a Group 3 for juvenile fillies, could follow the same path as it did twelve months ago and be rescheduled for Salisbury's Friday evening fixture in over a weeks' time.

Gethin to miss Prix Neil in favour of Saint-Cloud target

Owen Burrows has revealed that Gethin will not take his chance in Sunday's Prix Neil at Longchamp.

Unbeaten in both outings to date, Gethin hasn't been seen on the racecourse since his commanding success over Roger Varian's subsequent dual scorer Saddadd in a Newbury novice event in April.

The son of Ghaiyyath had been due to make his comeback at Windsor a few weeks ago but with ground conditions on the quick side, Burrows opted to bide his time.

Despite remaining in contention at Wednesday's confirmation stage for the Prix Neil, Gethin will not feature at Longchamp on Sunday, with Burrows instead favouring a trip to Saint-Cloud for the Listed Prix Turenne on September 12th.

"I just confirmed to get a look at what was likely to be running," Burrows told Galorama. "We're probably going to leave it a week. He's got an entry in the Prix du Prince d'Orange on Sunday 14th but I also entered him for the Prix Turenne on the 12th, which is a Listed race at Saint-Cloud, and that is the 95% certain target at the moment.

"He was ready to go there the other week at Windsor it was a little on the quick side there.

"Unfortunately, back home there aren't many options for him. His work has been pleasing and he's ready to go. We're keen to get on and get him out."