Racing Centre

OWNER Willie McKay is looking forward to seeing 2006 Darley July Cup winner Les Arcs back in action and he reported that the eight-year-old will have his first run for over a year at Haydock on Saturday before lining up at Newmarket on July 11.

Les Arcs, a winner of 12 races in total including two at the highest level, has only raced twice since winning the six-furlong sprint in 2006, having suffered injury problems.

"The Darley July Cup is still the plan for Les Arcs. He did a piece of work on Wednesday and it went well," explained McKay.

"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. We were going to run him at Newcastle in the Chipchase Stakes but we by-passed it because of the ground.

"We’re running him at Haydock on Saturday (in a six-furlong conditions race) and then he’ll run the following Friday in the Darley 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 Darley 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."