It is close to two years since The Grey Gatsby recorded the most famous win of his career and trainer Kevin Ryan is hoping a return to the same race can bring around a change fortune for his popular charge.

The Grey Gatsby has not won since he floored Derby winner Australia in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown in September 2014.

Ryan Moore steered his mount to get up in the shadow of the post as they denied Joseph O’Brien on the long odds-on favourite that afternoon.

The ground at Leopardstown that day was good to firm, good in places and Ryan is pinning his hopes on a sound surface once more when this year’s renewal takes place on September 10.

The Grey Gatsby finished sixth behind Roger Varian’s Postponed in the Juddmonte International at York on his latest start and Ryan says he has come out of that race well.

“He’s come out of his race at York really well,” said Ryan. “It looks like the ground is going to be OK for him in Ireland.

He’s got a few good targets before the end of the year, so as long as the ground comes for him, hopefully he’ll get his head in front.”

Last year, The Grey Gatsby finished just under five-lengths adrift as another Derby hero, Golden Horn, won the Irish Champion Stakes on yielding ground.

The latest Epsom Classic winner, Harzand, is entered in this year’s Champion Stakes but according to Ryan, his trainer may be looking anxiously at the weather forecast in the coming days.

“Dermot Weld is concerned the ground is going to be quick for his horse (Harzand), so they know what the forecast is going to be over there for the next ten days or so,” he added “It looks likely it’s going to be top of the ground.”

Ryan is also eyeing up a potential tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October as well as the Breeders’ Cup in America the following month, with The Grey Gatsby expected to retire at season’s end.

York scorer Postponed is 4.50 to win the Arc while Harzand is priced at 7.00.