Tuesday 1 September 2015 13:23, UK
Popular veteran Cirrus Des Aigles is on course to make his comeback from injury in the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on September 12.
The nine-year-old has not been seen since finishing last of four behind Solow in the Prix d'Ispahan in May on ground that was quicker than ideal.
He had earlier beaten Al Kazeem in the Prix Ganay - a 22nd career victory and his seventh success at the highest level.
After his first trip to Ireland, a return to Ascot is on the cards for what will be his fifth appearance in the Champion Stakes, a race he won in 2011 and then made Frankel pull out all the stops a year later.
"He's on target for Leopardstown," said trainer Corine Barande-Barbe. "It will be his first run in Ireland - he likes going to new places.
"His problem wasn't serious and given the way the ground has been, he hasn't missed anything.
"He's been in cracking form recently and we hope it rains a little.
"It's not that he needs mud, it's just that a few of his opponents don't like it soft.
"He never left the yard and was back in full work in July. He had three weeks just walking.
"After Ireland, there's a possibility he could go for the Prix Dollar (Longchamp), but it's only a Group Two and he'd have a lot of weight so we may just go straight to Ascot.
"After that, we'll be going to Dubai in March again and we'll see about Hong Kong as he's had a long break this year it might be the time to go."
