Ebro River bidding to put himself back in Royal Ascot picture on Chantilly raid

Ebro River will aim to thrust himself back into the Royal Ascot picture on Monday with a trip to France for the Prix Texanita (2.52) at Chantilly.

Winner of the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes last year, the Al Shaqab Racing-owned colt faces a field of unexposed French three-year-olds, including Alex Pantall-trained trio Le Cadeau, Feel Your Power and Before Dawn, as well as the supplemented Haziym, in the Group 3 contest, which has been won by Suesa and Wooded in the last two years.

Ebro River was only fifth on his comeback when sent off favourite for last month's Abernant Stakes, but the ground was deemed too quick for him there and connections are praying the forecast rain arrives at Chantilly.

"We're going in the hope there'll be thunderstorms and rain as all the forecasts are giving them, but if it misses there he'll come home as we're not going to run him on firm ground – we made that mistake in the Abernant," said trainer Hugo Palmer.

"They're calling it good and they've been watering it to stop it being firm, but we need some of these thunderstorms to hit overnight.

"The key thing to him is the ground as he doesn't want it quick. He's a big, strong horse, and although he's more exposed than the rest of the field, I'd assume he'd be favourite as he's a Group 1 winner."

Hugo Palmer: banking on overnight rain in FranceCredit: Edward Whitaker

If the trip is aborted, Ebro River has the option of heading to Haydock on Saturday in preparation for either the Commonwealth Cup or King's Stand at Ascot next month, races for which he is quoted at 25-1 generally.

"The horse is in great form and I'm really keen to run him as it fits in well timewise, but if he can't run he'll have an entry in the Sandy Lane and probably the Temple Stakes as well on Saturday," said Palmer.

"Ever Given will be entered in the Sandy Lane, while Flaming Rib will have entries in the Temple Stakes and Sandy Lane. There are three races for the three horses and it would be nice to run them in different races, but we'll see."

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