Golden Horn could travel to France for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe without another run should conditions turn against him in the Irish Champion Stakes.
The John Gosden-trained Derby winner lost his unbeaten record to Arabian Queen in last week’s Juddmonte International on a rain-softened track at York.
The ground at Leopardstown on September 12 will be crucial to his participation.
If Golden Horn was forced to bypass the Irish Champion, owner Anthony Oppenheimer would be unfazed by the prospect of charting a direct route to the Arc on October 4.
“Sometimes in racing not everything goes smoothly, and things did not go smoothly at York,” Oppenheimer said.
“The plan now is to go to Ireland, where we hope they will have an Indian summer.
“Leopardstown is a very good track and drains very well so we hope the ground will be fine for him.
“If we cannot travel to Ireland because of the ground, that (going straight to the Arc) is a possibility.
“There is also the Champion Stakes to fall back on, so the horse still has plenty of options.”