Leopardstown on Almanzor's agenda The Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown and the Champion Stakes at Ascot have emerged as major targets for French star Almanzor. Jean-Claude Rouget's three-year-old has not been seen in competitive action since he sprang something of a surprise in the French Derby at Chantilly at the start of June, but he is closing in on a return. The Wootton Bassett colt holds an entry in the Juddmonte International at York on August 17, but Almanzor is instead set to reappear at Deauville two days earlier. Rouget said: "I am thinking of taking Almanzor to Deauville for the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano (August 15), then to Leopardstown for the Irish Champion Stakes and after that to Ascot for the Champion Stakes on Champions Day. "That's the plan, but it can change." The Pau-based trainer landed the Champion Stakes, then run at Newmarket, with Literato in 2007. "Literato was tough and so is Almanzor, both with good temperaments," Rouget added. "Literato was a small horse with a big action. Almanzor has more scope and is bigger." Unbeaten stablemate La Cressonniere, who won the French Oaks in June, will warm up for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in a Group Two at at Deauville later this month. Rouget said: "La Cressonniere has the Arc as her target, but first she runs in the Prix de la Nonette (August 23) and we'll see after Deauville." Mekhtaal, disappointing in the French Derby and then fourth in the Grand Prix de Paris, could also run in the Arc, according to his trainer. Rouget told www.ownerbreeder.co.uk: " He is very quiet, but a good horse. "I am not anxious about his disappointing eighth in the Prix du Jockey Club because there was something wrong at the last minute and he just did not run his race."
