Giant's Causeway will make a trip to lowly Southwell on Friday in preparation for his attempt at next month's Breeders' Cup Classic, writes Brian O'Connor.
Aidan O'Brien will work his multiple Group One winner on the English race track's all-weather surface in preparation for his tilt at America's premier dirt race.
Michael Kinnane will accompany Giant's Causeway to England and will partner Montjeu in the following day's Dubai Champion Stakes at Newmarket.
O'Brien said yesterday: "This has been at the back of our minds if the horse was going to miss the Champion Stakes. It should be a good experience for him with America in mind."
It was decided yesterday that Montjeu would take his chance at Newmarket. Connections made the decision after the colt worked yesterday. A spokesman for his French-based trainer John Hammond said: "Montjeu is going to run in the Champion Stakes. Michael Kinane will ride."
Giant's Causeway had been expected to represent owners Michael Tabor and John Magnier in the £400,000 contest. However, the prospect of softish ground at Newmarket may have helped sway them towards running Montjeu in the Group One contest.
Top hurdler Limestone Lad is to have a new jockey on his chasing debut at Tipperary on Saturday week. The eight-year-old was generally ridden by Shane McGovern last season, during which he won eight out of his 12 races and also finished second in the Bonusprint Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham.
But Michael Bowe, son of owner/trainer James, said yesterday: Cash is an experienced rider over fences and we have every confidence that he will help Limestone Lad to adapt to the larger obstacles."
Enzeli could represent Ireland in next month's Melbourne Cup. Running plans had been up in the air for last year's Gold Cup winner, who finished only fifth in the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp last time out.
But trainer John Oxx left the five-year-old in at yesterday's second declaration stage for the Melbourne Cup, in which he has second top-weight of 9st.
As expected, the Martin Pipe-trained Far Cry (9st) and James Fanshawe's Arctic Owl (8-13) were both declared for the November 7th contest. Godolphin have left in All The Way (8-11), Mukhalif (8-8), Lightning Arrow (8-5), Timahs (8-5) and Evil Empire (8-1).
John Hammond's Mont Rocher (8-6) completes a nine-strong team of acceptors from Europe - the biggest overseas representation at the second declaration stage in recent years.
Melbourne Cup: Michael Eskander betting: 10-1 Far Cry, Oxford Dollar, 12-1 Arctic Owl, Freemason, Mont Rocher, 16-1 Bohemiath, Coco Cobanna, Enzeli, 20-1 All The Way, Citra's Prince, Kaapstad Way, Ken's Joy, Streak 25-1 Diatribe, Evil Empire, Hill Of Grace, Lightning Arrow, Pravda, The Hind, Tie The Knot, Yippyio, 33-1 bar.
Following the decision to call off Monday's Punchestown meeting after one race when the track was found to be unfit for racing, the meeting arranged there for Thursday week has been abandoned.
However, the Turf Club have arranged for one of the races on Monday's card, the EBF Fillies Maiden, to be run at the Curragh on Sunday. There will also be two additional meetings next week, a Flat meeting at Dundalk on Thursday and a National Hunt card and Fairyhouse on Friday at which the remainder of the races from the abandoned meetings will be run.
Entries for the Curragh race will stand, but fresh entries for the Dundalk meeting will close on Friday and for Fairyhouse on Saturday.
