Battaash to head straight to Longchamp as connections opt to give Ireland a miss

Superstar sprinter Battaash will head straight to Longchamp for the Prix de l'Abbaye in October after trainer Charlie Hills stated the Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned five-year-old would miss next month's Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh on Irish Champions Weekend.

Hills said: "Battaash is not going to go to Ireland for the Flying Five –he'll go straight to the Abbaye. I've just spoken to Sheikh Hamdan and we're slightly conscious that when he put in a performance like he did at York last week, it's got to take a little bit out of him.

"We think the Abbaye's a great race and he's won it before, so we want to concentrate on that. It leaves the Breeders' Cup open if we win there or happen to run well. I'm really happy with him and he's put all of his weight back on, and a bit more. He looks terrific and I couldn't be more pleased."

Battaash is a best-priced even-money with the bookmakers to win the Group 1 in Paris on October 6 for a second time, having won at Chantilly two years ago before finishing fourth to Mabs Cross when the race returned to Longchamp last year.

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