YORK RACECOURSE is set to host the summer’s most eagerly-anticipated Flat contest next week after Aiden O’Brien hinted that Gleneagles could line up against Golden Horn in the Juddmonte International.

Gleneagles, the 2,000 Guineas winner who has also claimed the Irish equivalent and the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, had been set to contest the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville this weekend.

However, with conditions in France having gone against the three-year-old, O’Brien is set to switch targets to Wednesday’s Juddmonte and a mouth-watering clash with Derby winner Golden Horn.

Ideally, O’Brien would like to keep Gleneagles to a mile, but after missing the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood because of unsuitable ground, the Irish trainer is running out of options for his two-time Guineas winner.

The Juddmonte is run over a mile-and-a-quarter, a trip that should be ideal for Golden Horn, who warmed up for his Derby win with an eye-catching victory on the Knavesmire in May’s Dante Stakes.

Gleneagles’ presence would add considerable lustre to the Juddmonte, which is the feature race on the opening day of next week’s Ebor Festival, and O’Brien has praised the horse’s owners for setting up the prospect of such an appetising clash.

“The chances of him (Gleneagles) running in the Prix Jacques le Marois on Sunday are unfortunately fading with the forecast,” said O’Brien.

“I’ve always considered Gleneagles a true miler, but he needs fast ground to be seen at his best, therefore York will probably be his next race as we are running out of options with him. It’s a very sporting gesture by his owners.”