Trainer Mick Appleby has confirmed that Danzeno could compete in the Portland Handicap at Doncaster before the Qipco British Champions Sprint at Ascot on October 21.

Danzeno was last in action on August 8 when he finished seventh in the Qatar Stewards’ Cup Handicap.

Lancelot Du Lac won the race but Appleby is expecting a strong finish to the season from Danzeno. The bay gelding has had a low-key season so far, winning just once from his four outings.

He won at Ascot in July but has also been in disappointing form at York, Ascot and Goodwood.

The six-year-old could now be lined up for a five-furlong handicap on September 16 at Doncaster and Appleby believes it will be the perfect warm-up before a run at Ascot.

“He ran well in the Stewards’ Cup. He had traffic problems and if he’d had got a clear run he’d probably would have won,” Appleby told At The Races.

“He’s in on Champions Day. We’ll aim for that and probably give him one run into him before that.

“He is likely to go for the Portland or possibly a handicap at Ascot in September and then Champions Day at Ascot.

He’s very good and I’ve always said he’s a Group One horse. “Silvestre (de Sousa) gave him a peach of a ride that day and he’ll come on from Goodwood.”