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Subjectivist will be aimed at the Goodwood Cup on 1 August following his brave third in the Gold Cup at Ascot.

Trainer Charlie Johnston is realistic about the impact that the Royal Ascot run may have had on Subjectivist, who suffered a career-threatening leg injury in 2021 after his victory in the Gold Cup. The six-year-old returned following a 618-day break with a disappointing effort in the Group 3 Red Sea Turf Handicap in Riyadh and posted an improved performance when third in the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan in February. His third in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot last month was his first run in the UK since June 2021.

"Every day is a judgement call as to how the legs feel and how much work he does. He hadn't really had a real good blow into him at home, so I think that would have contributed to him being a little bit keen at Ascot," said Johnston.

"It was a run of immense pride in the horse and the team for having got him there.

"You couldn't help but feel a little bit of what could have been. If this horse is able to finish third in an Ascot Gold Cup on three legs, then how many of these would we have won if we hadn't had the setback we had? It was a good run, for sure.

"The plan is to go to Goodwood. He hasn't been sat on yet, he's just been swimming and on the water walker.

"The idea is for him to go back ridden on Tuesday, then trot for a week, then go back cantering the week after. To be honest, it is only at that point we will really find out what scars, if any, this run has left.

"He was sound in the legs post-race, but given his history, you don't run two and a half miles at that level without some consequence.

"Hopefully he'll be fine and we will do all we can to get him to Goodwood."

Subjectivist is currently available at 7/1 for the Group 1 Goodwood Cup, which is the feature race on the first day of Glorious Goodwood Festival. Gold Cup winner Courage Mon Ami heads the market at a general 5/2.