Big Orange is now firm favourite for the Qatar Goodwood Cup after Aidan O’Brien ruled Order of St George out of the race.

Order of St George, a son of Galileo had a midsummer break last year after winning the Ascot Gold Cup and he’s set for the same sort of campaign this time around after he narrowly failed in his Royal Ascot defence against Big Orange.

But the hugely anticipated re-match is now unlikely to happen, according to O’Brien.

“He’s having a little bit of a midsummer break and he probably won’t be running,” O’Brien said.

“U.S. Army Ranger is probably going to run in the Goodwood Cup, that’s the plan.”

Big Orange is now the 11-10 (from 5-4) favourite with Coral. O’Brien has said US Army Ranger was likely to represent him in the Group One, and is 16-1 (from 25-1) with Coral.

“Big Orange had already attracted some support for a third win in the Goodwood Cup, so the news that he is unlikely to face Order Of St George next month is very good news indeed for his backers,” said Coral’s David Stevens.