Mullins aiming for October hat-trick for Princess Zoe with Ebor looking doubtful

A warm and dry outlook at York next week looks like spoiling Tony Mullins' Ebor ambitions for Princess Zoe but the trainer has an audacious October plan in mind for his star mare instead.

Princess Zoe is 14-1 with the sponsors for Saturday's Sky Bet Ebor and 7-1 with the same firm for Friday's Group 2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup but the weather forecast looks like scuppering plans of running in either of those races.

In the absence of rain at York, the Group 1 winner is instead likely to attempt an ambitious tilt at three of the biggest staying prizes of the autumn over a 23-day period in October.

Mullins said: "The suitcase is packed and up on the bed. We're ready to go but, unfortunately, one thing I can't do is change the weather forecast and it looks like we won't be going on any holidays to York.

"It's a shame but that's just the way it is. We'll keep an eye on the weather and pray for rain but it just doesn't look like happening."

Plan B is ready to be activated and will see Princess Zoe attempt to win the Prix du Cadran on October 2, the Long Distance Cup on October 16 and the Prix Royal-Oak on October 24.

Mullins said: "The reason she ran at the Curragh on Friday night is because I want to run her three times in October and didn't want to have to run her in September.

"The plan is to go back and defend her crown in the Cadran, then head to Ascot for the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day and then the Prix Royal-Oak. We might only get to take in two out of the three when it comes down to it but I'm aiming her at all three."

Despite her defeat to last year's Melbourne Cup winner Twilight Payment in the St Leger Trial at the Curragh on Friday, Mullins believes Princess Zoe is not just as good as ever, but in fact better.

The trainer said: "I actually think she's better than she's ever been now. Joey [Sheridan] thought he had Twilight Payment covered all the way up the straight but just couldn't get to him. He's a very good horse and he loves the Curragh too. The ground had dried out an awful lot in 24 hours. It was good and safe but it had dried out a lot.

"We were running over six furlongs short of our optimum trip. That was a mile and six and our optimum is two and a half miles."

Princess Zoe, who was runner-up to Subjectivist in the Gold Cup, is priced between 6-1 and 8-1 for the Long Distance Cup back at Ascot on October 16.

Read more:

Haggas lands Group-race treble as Sacred bounces back to win at Newbury

'He was up for it today' - Hukum sets up international campaign with Newbury win

'She's thriving so why not' - Alcohol Free to run in Juddmonte International

New Sky Bet customers can get £30 in free bets when you place a sports bet. 5p minimum stake. First single and EW bet only. 3 x £10 free bet tokens. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets exclude virtual. Free bets are non-withdrawable. No free bet expiry. Eligibility restrictions. Further T&Cs apply. 18+. Click here to claim