Juddmonte plan for Churchill

Churchill is now set to feature in the Juddmonte International at York, instead of Sunday’s Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien was weighing up his options for the three-year-old dual Guineas winner, after making a late decision to withdraw him from last Wednesday‘s Sussex Stakes at Goodwood because of the conditions.

There was the possibility of Churchill going to France this coming weekend, but it appears O’Brien favours a run on home soil at York on August 23.

The Ballydoyle handler said: “We are looking at York with Churchill.

“It is not written in stone, but we are looking at going up to a mile and a quarter with him.

“The plan was to go to Goodwood and then go up to a mile and a quarter after that.

“If we were to go to France this week then we might not get a chance to go up to a mile and a quarter.

“If York went well then he may go on to Leopardstown (Irish Champion Stakes).”