Connections of Estrange are already watching the weather radars with intrigue as they work their way back from the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in the autumn.

An unseasonably dry autumn ruled David O’Meara’s star mare out of a tilt at Europe’s richest middle-distance prize in the autumn and the weather has also refused to play ball this spring, with minimal rainfall in the early stages of the new season.

The five-year-old won twice at Haydock before going on to finish second in Group One company last term and a return to Merseyside is the preferred starting point one again, if granted optimum conditions.

“We would like to follow a similar route to last year and start at Haydock (Lester Piggott Fillies’ Stakes, on May 30) if we can, do the same thing, point towards the Arc and hopefully get a typically Parisian autumn,” said Chris Richardson, managing director of owners Cheveley Park Stud.

“We’ve got her in in Ireland (Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes, June 27) where we might get some rain and she’s in great form, we just need to get some softer ground.

“She’s in great form and wintered well and when I saw her the other day she was loving life, so fingers crossed we can find the right conditions. It’s got to rain sometime.”