Colin Keane pays his first visit to the Limekilns as Lead Artist tunes up for French assignment on Sunday

Irish champion jockey Colin Keane paid his first visit to the Limekilns training grounds on Wednesday morning, when Juddmonte's retained rider dropped in to partner Lead Artist in a blowout before the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp on Sunday. 

After 7mm of overnight rain, Keane had a pre-gallop inspection of the trial ground together with joint-trainer Thady Gosden before going through the gears on the Lockinge winner with a decent lead horse just following him up. 

Colin Keane on Lead Artist on Wednesday morning

Lead Artist appeared to be enjoying a return to a grass facility, having been confined to the all-weather for weeks. Conditions were a bit different at second lot when the rain was sweeping across the Long Gallop, where Keane pushed Nightwalker clear of his lead.