Ground determines Ajaan aim

Future plans for Chester Cup runner-up Ajaan will be determined by the ground.

The prospect of quick conditions led to the five-year-old, trained by Henry Cecil, being withdrawn from tomorrow’s Stowe Family Law LLP Grand Cup at York at the final declaration stage.

“He’s very well. We were hoping to run at York tomorrow but the ground is too fast for him,” said Alan Cooper, racing manager to owners the Niarchos family.

“His programme will be dictated by the ground. He needs good ground rather than firm ground.”