John Hammond today ruled Montjeu out of Saturday's ESAT Digifone Irish Champion Stakes. The Chantilly trainer has decided to keep his star colt closer to home and aim him instead at the Prix Foy at Longchamp 24 hours later. He had warned last weekend that a planned trip to Leopardstown was doubtful for the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes winner, due to a minor training setback.
And after mulling over his options for a few days Hammond has elected to use the Longchamp contest as the four-year-old's prep race for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The horse will probably run at Longchamp on Sunday in the Prix Foy, the trainer said. He has missed some work due to a slight setback and that is why he won't be going to Ireland. But it is important that he has a run before the Arc. He is not at the top of his game but he is fine to run.
Montjeu is odds-on favourite to repeat last year's victory in the Arc, having made it three wins form three starts in 2000 with a highly-impressive length-and-three-quarter defeat of Fantastic Light in the King George. His place in the Irish Champion Stakes could now be taken by five-time Group One winner Giant's Causeway, who is also owned by Michael Tabor and Mrs John Magnier. (PA)
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
