Andrew Balding’s star filly Kalpana was a notable absentee from the Middleton Stakes at declaration stage on Tuesday morning.

The Andrew Balding-trained Kalpana will miss her intended reappearance in the Middlteon Stakes at York on Thursday due to a dirty scope.

Sporting the colours of Juddmonte, Kalpana enjoyed a highly successful and progressive three-year-old campaign, winning three consecutive races which culminated with a ready two-length triumph in the Group 1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot on Champions Day.

That success saw her shoot to the head of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe market, with connections keen to follow the 'Bluestocking route' this season. However, she will now longer take the same route to Paris as connections winner last season, with Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh a likely alternative starting point on May 25th.

Speaking to the PA, Barry Mahon, racing manager of Juddmonte, said: "Andrew just wasn't happy with her scope this morning and there was a little bit of mucus there,"

"We could look towards the Curragh for the Tattersalls Gold Cup and if the treatment clears her up and Andrew is happy with her, I would say that would look the most obvious next target. After that you are rolling into Epsom (for the Coronation Cup)."

Kalpana's absence leaves a field of eight for the Group 2 Middleton Stakes at York on Thursday, with Andrew Balding still likely to field the market leader courtesy of See The Fire. The Jeff Smith-owned four-year-old, who was denied a neck in the Nassau Stakes before winning the Strensall Stakes at York in August, will return to the Knavesmire having finished fifth behind Al Aasy in the Gordon Richards Stakes on her reappearance.

Taking her on will be Charlie Appleby's Dahlia Stakes third Beautiful Love and Owen Burrows' Park Hill Fillies' Stakes winner Nakheel, who will be taking a sharp drop back in trip on her first start of the season.

Doha and Royal Dress are also interesting contenders, while Sioux Life makes her first outing in Britain for Marco Botti after a profitable campaign in Italy.

Ambiente Amigo and Karmology round out the field.