Pre-race favourite Alpine Eagle has been scratched from the Turnbull Stakes putting his chances of a Cox Plate start in jeopardy.

The Tony McEvoy-trained four-year-old will miss Sunday’s Group One race at Flemington with a hoof abscess.

Depending on how well the injury heals, Alpine could still run in the Caulfield Stakes or Toorak Handicap to try to cement a Group One win and help his cause for a start in the Cox Plate on October 24.