'The plan is to run' - River Tiber set for Prix Morny after coming through Saturday morning workout

A sizzling showdown between River Tiber and Ramatuelle in the Group 1 Sumbe Prix Morny at Deauville on Sunday looks set to go ahead after the unbeaten Coventry Stakes winner satisfied Aidan O’Brien in a canter this morning. 

The son of Wootton Bassett is challenging the leading local hope Ramatuelle for favouritism with most bookmakers, but he met with a setback after his Royal Ascot victory and his participation was in doubt on Friday. 

His presence in the Prix Morny relied upon a Saturday morning canter and O’Brien said that workout went well. The trainer told the Racing Post: "He’s just come past me a few minutes ago and everything looks good. At the moment the plan is to run."

Speaking at the Arqana August Yearling Sales on Friday, Coolmore's MV Magnier said: "Hopefully Aidan will run River Tiber on Sunday. He’s going to canter him tomorrow and if he’s happy enough then we’ll go, but he did miss a week of work two weeks ago so he’s a bit worried about his fitness."

Magnier added: "He was just a little bit sore, it was nothing serious."

River Tiber posted a ten-length debut success on soft ground at Navan in April and could face testing conditions again after Deauville was hit with 22mm of rain on Friday morning, turning the going heavy.

He followed up with a comfortable conditions race win at Naas the following month, before justifying huge market confidence when getting the better of Army Ethos by a neck at odds of 11-8 at Royal Ascot. 

The form has since been given a major boost thanks to Coventry third Bucanero Fuerte's dominant success in the Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes last Saturday.

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Confirmed runners and riders for the Prix Morny and Prix Romanet at Deauville on Sunday 

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