Soft options for Hawkbill

Trainer Charlie Appleby will be looking for soft ground in future for his Godolphin flagship Hawkbill, who failed to cope with the fast surface in last week's G1 Juddmonte International at York.

Hawkbill sat handy behind the pace to the home bend but did not stretch out on the Good to Firm going and finished eighth -- 11 and a half lengths behind impressive winner Postponed.

Appleby nominated the G1 Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on September 10 and the G1 Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 15 as two possible targets for the three-year-old in coming weeks.

"What we learnt about Hawkbill at York is that he wants 'cut.' He didn't like the ground there. We'll go to Ireland if the ground is suitable, and if it is not, then we will go to Ascot, where there is always a strong chance of getting it Soft," he pointed out.

When Hawkbill beat The Gurkha in the G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park last month, the official going reading was Soft.