William Buick will ride Adayar in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with Hurricane Lane facing a crucial gallop on Saturday morning.
The Derby and King George hero is reported to be firmly on target for the Group One showpiece after a strong piece of work in midweek. He had been forced to miss an intended prep-race in the Prix Niel with a leg infection.
Stablemate Hurricane Lane could join him in the line-up but will work under James Doyle on Saturday morning before connections commit the Cazoo St Leger winner to the race.
Trainer Charlie Appleby told www.godolphin.com: "A week is a long time in racing, particularly when you are coming into a race such as the Arc. We obviously have to take on board the well being of both horses, but also the way the race is taking shape, and, very importantly, the ground at Longchamp.
"The one thing Hurricane Lane does not want is a quick surface. Adayar comes into the versatile category, but we have always felt ease in the ground enhances Hurricane Lane’s prospects. Unfortunately, the weather in Paris is out of our hands.
“Hurricane Lane gallops on Saturday. Adayar will also gallop. Then there will be discussions with the team, and we will see where we stand during the week, whether we will have one or two Arc runners,” he said.
Of the decision Buick was facing, Appleby said: “It’s a hard choice, but William is confident he’s picking the right horse.
“I’m always happy for jockeys to be able to choose the horse they would like to ride. That means they have confidence in the horse and they take that into the race.
Appleby also picked out what he sees as the big danger to his runners – the Dermot Weld-trained Breeders’ Cup winner Tarnawa.
He said: “Fillies at this time of the year, if they are going in the right direction, can be very hard to beat. Tarnawa is a Group One winner over course and distance (Prix Vermeille), she’s a Breeders’ Cup winner and finished a very good second in the Irish Champion Stakes. Her credentials are first class.”