July Cup target for D'Or

Marchand D’Or is likely to return to Britain for the Darley July Cup following his luckless run at Royal Ascot.

The French-trained sprinter, fourth to Sakhee’s Secret 12 months ago, is available at 10-1 for the six-furlong showpiece at Newmarket on July 11.

He may then bid to win the Prix de Maurice de Gheest at Deauville in August for the third successive year.

“If I find him well enough he’ll go back for the July Cup and the plan is also to go to Deauville,” said his handler, Freddy Head.

Head reported the five-year-old grey to be in fine shape after finishing sixth in the Golden Jubilee Stakes.

“He’s very well and is in good form,” Head said. “He was very tense and ran too free early on, then he got into a little trouble and had a bit of a fight in the middle of the course. That meant he dropped back but he finished well.”