GROUP 1 winner Verbal Dexterity will miss the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket next month.

His trainer Jim Bolger told The Irish Field on Wednesday evening: "Verbal Dexterity has had a setback which will rule him out of Newmarket."

The Vocalised colt holds entries in the Dante at York, the Irish 2000 Guineas and the Irish Derby.

Bred by the trainer and joint-owner John Corcoran, Vocalised burst on to the scene last June when winning a seven-furlong Curragh maiden by almost 10 lengths.

Brought back in trip for the Group 2 Railway Stakes in July, he finished a close second to Beckford but reversed that form in some style in September's Group 1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes, defeating Beckford by three and a half lengths.

Verbal Dexterity had one more outing as a juvenile, when fourth (beaten three and a half lengths) in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster. He was a general 16/1 shot for the 2000 Guineas.

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