Ground conditions at ParisLongchamp are likely to be the deciding factor as to whether Adayar has a second crack at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on Sunday week, live on Sky Sports Racing.
Last year’s Derby and King George hero was beaten just under four lengths into fourth place in Europe’s premier middle-distance contest 12 months ago, before rounding off his three-year-old campaign with a disappointing fifth in the Champion Stakes just under a fortnight later.
An intended return at Royal Ascot failed to come to fruition and after subsequently being ruled out of the Eclipse at Sandown and a defence of his King George crown, he eventually made his comeback in a three-runner conditions race at Doncaster earlier this month – proving a different class to his two rivals.
In the immediate aftermath trainer Charlie Appleby was leaning towards the Champion Stakes as his end-of-season target, but he could yet return to Paris if conditions look like being in his favour.
Speaking at Newmarket on Thursday, the Moulton Paddocks handler said: “It’s most likely Adayar is going to work on Saturday and if we’re happy with that work we will then leave him in the Arc on Monday and take a look at it then.