Australia's Shamexpress has finished out of the money in the July Cup won by Lethal Force at Newmarket but trainer Danny O'Brien says he has no regrets about taking the colt to England.

Shamexpress, who was also unplaced in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, will return to Australia to be prepared for the spring where he could again clash with Lethal Force.

The winner of the Diamond Jubilee at the Royal meeting, Lethal Force is being targeted by Australian officials.

Taken to the front as he was in the Diamond Jubilee, Lethal Force defied all challengers to record a time of 1:09.11 for the six furlongs (1200m).

Trainer Clive Cox says he now has plenty of options.

"He's a seven-furlong Group Two winner, so the Maurice de Gheest is possible (over six and a half furlongs at Deauville) and beyond that we've had lots of kind invitations from as far afield as Australia and Hong Kong," Cox said.

"We'll just take it a step at a time."

O'Brien said Shamexpress, who finished seventh, probably didn't handle the undulating course which has a steep uphill climb to the winning post.

"The jockey felt on a flat track he probably finishes the race off and puts himself right in the finish, but just that rise over the last 100 (metres) is obviously pretty tough," O'Brien said.

"We always knew to come here as a three year old with the jump in weights he was going to have step up a bit.

"They are very hard races to win. You have got to go somewhere with them, and it was either this or Queensland and I have certainly got no real dramas about coming here.

"He will have a break here, go back into work at Newmarket, then travel out with the Cups horses and be ready for Melbourne Cup week for the sprints there. I am more than happy to have come here."