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Cicero’s Gift will be dropped in class for his next outing following a disappointing run in the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Unbeaten in three starts prior to the Royal meeting, Cicero's Gift came into the St James's Palace Stakes with a big reputation and was well-supported in the lead-up to the race.

He was settled midfield by jockey Kieran Shoemark but struggled to get a clear run from two furlongs out from his rail-side position and finished seventh of nine behind Paddington.

"He's a really nice horse," said trainer Charlie Hills.

"He was a bit slow away and I think experience counted in the race. They went very fast for the first four furlongs and I think it just caught him out a little bit and then from that low draw, he just couldn't get a run off that rail.

"We never got to see the full potential of him that day and we will see where we go with him now. I'm keen to give him a little break and then come back for something like the Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood which could be a good spot for him.

"He's rated 109 and already up to a good rating, but I would love to find him a Listed race or something just to perhaps get him winning again and then work him back up.

"I see no reason why he wouldn't get a mile and a quarter in time and he's going to make a lovely four-year-old."

Run over a mile, the Group 3 Thoroughbred Stakes is held on the Friday of the Glorious Goodwood meeting and has been used as a stepping stone for future Group success. Charlie Hills won the 2020 renewal with Tilsit and Baaeed was an impressive victor in the 2021 contest before scoring in the Group 1 Prix du Moulin.