John Hammond yesterday decided to run Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe favourite Montjeu at Longchamp tomorrow.
After flirting with the idea of a tilt at today's Esat Digifone Irish Champion Stakes, the trainer has decided to aim his stable-star at the Prix Niel.
Montjeu, officially rated Europe's top-three-year-old after winning the French and Irish Derbys in June, will be ridden by Michael Kinane in a field of just four.
The same number line out for the Prix Foy on the same card but all are Group One winners. They include last year's Arc winner Sagamix and fourth home Croco Rouge. But likely favourite is Japanese horse El Condor Pasa, who is currently second choice in ante-post betting on the Arc after an impressive victory in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in July.
Among a field of 11 for the Prix Vermeille is John Oxx's Edabiya (Johnny Murtagh), running for the first time since the Irish 1,000 Guineas in May. Heading the home team is the French Oaks winner Daryaba, owned like Edabiya by the Aga Khan.
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