Eminent is likely to make his seasonal reappearance in the Huxley Stakes at Chester next month.
Martyn Meade’s stable star won the Craven last year, as well a French Group Two and ran several good races in defeat in top company, including the Guineas and the Derby.
Meade had considered heading straight to the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot but is now favouring a prep race with Chester top of the list.
“I think that putting him away after the Irish Champion Stakes was the right thing to do as he had a busy season,” said Meade.
“He started off early on in the Craven and then of course the Derby, which can’t be underestimated, it takes a lot out of a three-year-old.
“I wasn’t disappointed with any race he ran last year, but I think he’s coming back this time much, much stronger and I firmly believe this will be his year in the sun.
“The principal target early on will be the Prince of Wales’s at Ascot, that’s what we’re aiming for and I’ll need to give him a preparation race for that.
“I think the Prix Ganay ground would not be ideal for him, although he did go on soft ground last year. I think he’ll be better on a faster surface and I’m leaning towards the Huxley at Chester during their festival in May.
“It is a track which would suit him and it would be a very good prep race, so that is top of the list at the moment.”