AS the chief protagonists from Sunday's Irish 2,000 Guineas focus on the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, Ian Balding has revealed his fifth placed Tagula will step back a quarter of a mile for the Darley July Cup at Newmarket on July 11th.

The Taufan colt, third to Ashkalani in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains at Longchamp a fortnight ago, was beaten seven and a half lengths behind Spinning World at the Curragh, having held every chance when ridden by Kevin Darley at the two furlong pole.

Now the Kingsclere trainer is set to return Tagula to six furlongs, the distance at which he won the July Stakes at Newmarket and the Group One Prix Morny at Deauville last season.

"I just don't think he stayed in that ground," said Balding of Tagula. "He had every chance two out, and I thought, `Oh boy, here we go,' but then he didn't get home.

"We will now go back to six furlongs with him, and he'll go for the July Cup."

Beauchamp King, a staying on third on Sunday, now has the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on June as his next target, where he will attempt to gain revenge on Spinning World.

"He's fine and he'll very probably go for the St James's Palace" said his trainer John Dunlop.

Mark Johnston also has the St James's Palace for fourth placed Bijou d'Inde.

"I haven't seen a replay of the race so I don't know quite what to say, but my initial thought was that he didn't quite get home and that the ground just found him out," he said.

Henry Cecil's Phantom Quest, supplemented for the Irish Guineas after beating Kammtarra in a maiden at Newmarket's Guineas meeting, will be a better horse come the autumn, according to his trainer.