Les Arcs will warm up for a bid to regain the Darley July Cup by running in the bet365.com Conditions Stakes at Haydock on Saturday.

The Stewart Parr-trained eight-year-old has been off the track with a tendon injury since May 2007 but is on course for the six-furlong Group One at Newmarket on Friday week, which he won in 2006.

His owner Willie McKay said: “The Darley July Cup is still the plan for Les Arcs. He did a piece of work on Wednesday and it went well. York racecourse allowed us to give him a piece of work during races a few weeks ago and Doncaster racecourse have allowed us to give him a gallop as well.”

He went on: “We were going to run him at Newcastle in the Chipchase Stakes but we bypassed it because of the ground. We’re running him at Haydock on Saturday and then he’ll run the following Friday in the July Cup.

“Darren Williams will ride the horse on Saturday because John Egan is in America at the moment but he’ll be back to ride him at Newmarket. Les Arcs is actually moving better now than he was after he won the July Cup in 2006.

“A top young Irish vet, Peter Hynes, is employed at our Martin Grange Stables and he’s been looking after things. We also bought a spa which he’s been in twice a day and it has helped him.”

Saturday’s race at Haydock also features other Group One winning sprinters Reverence and Patavellian in a 13-strong field.
(Source: At The Races)