Fahey has a plan up sleeve for Lockinge

Richard Fahey’s top-class colt – one of the Yorkshire horses to follow in 2017 – was beaten just a length into third place on World Cup night at Meydan, despite pulling his way to the front in the early stages of the nine-furlong contest under William Buick.

With the winning post in sight, the leader was overhauled by Japan’s outsider Vivlos who won a thriller from Heshem.

Third in last season’s 2000 Guineas, Ribchester’s most significant performance to date came when winning the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville last summer.

In an attempt to help Ribchester settle in his future races, owners Godolphin have transferred Toscanini from Mick Halford’s Irish yard to Fahey’s Musley Bank stables in Malton.

“His problem is that he goes from 0 to 35 mph in four strides at the start of his races,” said Fahey. “He has been doing it all his life. We will see how helpful it is to have a pacemaker in his races.

“For the time being, the plan is to go for the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in May, and that will determine whether it is then the Queen Anne Stakes, over one mile at Royal Ascot, or the Prince Of Wales, over a mile and a quarter, in the same week.”

Meanwhile Fahey faces an anxious wait to see if well-regarded dual Wolverhampton winner Nimr makes the cut for Saturday’s Betway Lincoln at Doncaster – the first major race of the 2017 Flat season on turf.

Though Roger Varian’s ante-post favourite Morando is guaranteed a run in the maximum 22-strong field, Nimry and John Gosden’s Sacred Act require significant defections after 91 horses were declared yesterday.

The final field is confirmed on Thursday, with a consolatiion race – the Spring Mile – for those who miss the main race.

The Lincoln weights are headed on 9st 10lb by Battle Of Marathon, trained by John Ryan who won the race with Ocean Tempest in 2014.

Trainer Martyn Meade is aiming Chelsea Lad at the Town Moor showpiece but he is not yet in the top 22.

The son of Clodovil has not been seen in competitive action since winning at Newmarket last May, but is being primed for a comeback at Doncaster.

“Chelsea Lad is hopefully going for the Lincoln. He had a knee problem last year, which is why he hasn’t run for a while, but he seems to have progressed well,” said Meade.

“He’s rated 96 and he could potentially be thrown in off that mark.”

Postponed, meanwhile, is likely to make his next appearance in the Coronation Cup at Epsom after having to make do with minor honours when defending his crown in Saturday’s Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan.

The aforementioned Varian’s charge enjoyed a spectacular campaign in 2016, winning the Dubai City of Gold, the Sheema Classic, the Coronation Cup and York’s Juddmonte International before finishing fifth in the Arc.

However he could only finish third behind the John Gosden-trained Jack Hobbs and Aidan O’Brien’s filly Seventh Heaven on heavily rain-softened ground.

“I suppose after the level he got to last year, you always have high expectations. We’re disappointed to get beaten, but the more we reflect on it, the more we think he hasn’t run a bad race at all,” said Varian.

“Without wanting to make excuses, I don’t think the ground would have suited him, there was also a headwind and a slow pace. He just can’t quicken on that slower ground, but I think you’ve got to congratulate the winner, who won very well on the night.”