Charlton may fly to France with Aviator Roger Charlton is considering sending Imperial Aviator on his travels next month for a tilt at the French Derby. While the Tercentenary Stakes at Royal Ascot remains the most likely target for the three-year-old the Beckhampton handler has said that he may switch his attentions to the mile and a quarter Group One prize at Chantilly on June 5 after ruling him out of appearing in the Investec Derby at Epsom. After beating leading Derby contender Ulysses in a maiden at Leicester on his return the son of Paco Boy then defeated a useful field in impressive style when following it up with a decisive success in the London Gold Cup at Newbury earlier this month. He said: "Imperial Aviator is in good form. He has been a revelation and I am thrilled with the horse as he done nothing wrong. "I think there were a few thoughts from his owners about perhaps running him at Epsom. "I just don't think he would be suited by the course and I am quite pleased that we are missing the pressure of running in the Derby as I don't think he is that sort of horse. "I think at this stage, as he is out of Paco Boy, there would have to be a question of him staying the mile and a half so we will stick to the mile and a quarter for the time being. "I guess that the Tercentenary Stakes (which Charlton won last year with Time Test) is the obvious race for him but I may just keep an eye on how the French Derby shapes up. "He is in the Irish Derby but that is a long way off we will just see what happens next."
