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Arc weekend target for Dunlop ace

Knight To Behold is to stick to Group Two company over a mile and a quarter for the Qatar Prix Dollar following his convincing victory at Deauville.

The Lingfield Derby Trial winner bounced back to his best after failing to stay a mile and a half in both the English and Irish Derby with a four-length romp in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano.

On the strength of that display, trainer Harry Dunlop is targeting the Sea The Stars colt at ParisLongchamp on October 6.

“He’s come out of Deauville really well. We’re very happy with him and the plan is to hopefully run him in the Prix Dollar. That’s the mile-and-a-quarter Group Two,” said the Lambourn handler.

“He won the Derby Trial at Lingfield so well beating Kew Gardens, whose form since has been very good.

“Basically he didn’t stay the mile and a half. We changed a few things around with him, put cheekpieces on him and things, and it’s got him right back to form.”

Dunlop’s flagbearer Robin Of Navan could go back across the Channel later this month after he needed his first run for 121 days at Deauville recently.

“He’s fine. He ran well the other day, he just got a little bit tired,” said Dunlop.

“We’ve got him in a Group Three at Maisons-Laffitte (La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte) on September 17 over a mile and a quarter. That’s a possible plan for him. Obviously he has the French (breeding) premiums, which is why we like to go there.

“We will also have a look at a race for him at Sandown.”