Jerome Reynier is hoping that the forecast rain in Meydan arrives ahead of Facteur Cheval’s run in the Group 1 Dubai Turf Sponsored By DP World on Saturday.

The seven-year-old son of Ribchester provided his handler with a memorable first Group 1 success when landing the spoils by the narrowest of margins two year’s ago and will return for a crack at the 1800m prize for the third season in a row having finished a respectable sixth behind Soul Rush last season.

With an excellent seasonal reappearance second to Royal Champion in the Group 1 Neom Turf at Riyadh and potential rain forecast later in the week, Reynier is looking forward to seeing his charge attempt to regain his crown.

He said: “He handles this trip really well and ran well here when he finished sixth last year. It was a really hot race last year.

“There’s plenty of rain forecast so if the ground is a bit softer that would be a help for him.”

Ridden by Mickael Barzalona, Facteur Cheval will have to face the might of John and Thady Gosden’s Ombudsman, of whom he finished a well-held sixth behind when the pair met in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot last year.

On the prospect of taking on the top-class five-year-old, who was last seen finishing runner-up to subsequent Japan Cup hero Calandagan in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot in October, Reynier added: “Obviously Ombudsman will be hard to beat but it’s horse racing, and you never know what might happen.”

The field features a wide range of international competitors, with multiple Group 1 runner-up Gaia Force flying the flag for Japan, the progressive Fort George in the mix for Ed Walker, while Ryan Moore will look to continue his association with Quddwah after steering Simon and Ed Crisford’s talented performer to victory in the Group 2 Singspiel Stakes.

Photo: Neville Hopwood/Getty Images