Harry Dunlop is looking forward to giving Robin Of Navan his first run of 2018 in the Prix Montjeu at Chantilly on Tuesday.
The Lambourn trainer has found what looks a ideal race over a mile for his stable stalwart and he will face just three rivals.
The five-year-old, who won a Group Three contest at Chantilly in June, last saw racecourse action in the Group One Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin in December when he was eighth to Time Warp.
Despite the cold snap, Dunlop was able to give Robin Of Navan some exercise on Saturday morning ahead of his date in France.
"It's basically a Dubai trial. We're not actually going to Dubai but this is a conditions race of 30,000 euro if you include the premiums," said Dunlop.
"There are four runners and it's on the all-weather One of them is quite good - Trais Fluors of Andre Fabre's that hasn't run since August. The others are lower rated so we thought it would be a good place to start him off.
"The horse is in good form so we just felt we'd make a start for the year and we've got some nice options in France and England later on. Without the Fabre horse in it you'd be a little more hopeful."
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