British trainer Michael Bell is eyeing up a trip to France with his stable star The Lir Jet with the Darley Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly looking like a big target for the sprinter.
The Newmarket handler has express that the extended five-furlong Group Two on July 19th as a potential destination for the Qatar Racing-owned colt and then move back over to England for the end of the season.
The two year old bounced onto the racing scene this season when breaking the track record at Yarmouth in a five furlong event.
He was then entered into the Group Two Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot, having just been bought by Qatar Racing and he went on to land the contest, just pipping American raider Golden Pal on the line.
Agony for backers of Golden Pal...
— The Winners Enclosure (@TWEnclosure) June 19, 2020
Wesley Ward's U.S raider appeared to have them all at in behind at 1f marker but possibly paid for his early exertions and was collared by THE LIR JET under a well-timed @oismurphy ride late on 👏🏼
📽 @AtTheRacespic.twitter.com/eVXKcT5gyX
(Credit At The Races) Bell said: “The Lir Jet is very well and seems none the worse for his Ascot exertions. He was very fresh in his exercise on Tuesday morning.
“He has been entered in the Robert Papin, and that is very much an option because he doesn’t have a penalty for that.
“He will also hold entries in the Prix Morny and Phoenix Stakes, but he is likely to take his chance in the Papin first.”
Many thought that The Lir Jet would not handle the softer conditions at Ascot but he went on to be just as good as his win on good to firm ground and that has inspired his trainer to not worry about the wetter conditions in France.
He said: “He has now won on both quick and softer ground, so we don’t have to avoid certain conditions.
“I don’t see the five-and-a-half-furlong trip being a problem for him, either. Let’s just hope he likes the French air!”