My early Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe fancy… in a race sadly lacking many Brit trainers

ONE British runner – trained by a Frenchman – currently in the Arc.

One likely to be supplemented.

PARalph Beckett is likely to be the only British trainer with a runner in the Arc – and even then I don’t fancy their chances much[/caption]

We may well have once fought them on the beaches, but it doesn’t look like we want to put up any fight in Paris!

Today a total of 18 horses remained in Sunday’s showpiece Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triumphe, shown live on ITV.

Of course close-to-Britain Aidan O’Brien will be trying to take the prize back to Ireland, but most British handlers can only look on and watch this year.

Sunway, the promoted St Leger third, is set to represent the excellent – but French – handler David Menuisier, as I revealed on ITV last week.

On Wednesday Ralph Beckett will likely supplement Vermeille heroine Bluestocking, the nearly horse who has come good in splendid fashion this season.

But while I think Bluestocking will run well, her defeats this term in the Juddmonte International and when second in the King George – Sunway behind in fourth – make her more of a place contender than victor.

I’ll be going through the Arc horse by horse in my Saturday column, but at this stage I’m most tempted to support Look de Vega, the Prix du Jockey-Club hero who was defeated in the Prix Niel when stepped up in trip.

Sosie stayed on too well for Look de Vega in the prep that most French handlers really do use as a prep, but I can think of a few reasons why Look de Vega will be so much better for that performance.

I would have thought he would be looking at a field of around 16 on the day.

A proper each way betting Arc. Have a bet. Nothing wrong in doing that by the way!

Elsewhere… I’ve not commented anywhere yet on the Cheltenham changes that came through last week.

In all honesty I don’t have much to quibble with anything that has been done, and some of the grievances seem without basis.

For instance, amateurs can still ride in the National Hunt Chase and quality horses can still take their chance in the Cross Country.

Even a class act can still go in the Turners, should it be called that, even though it has been turned into a handicap.

At the end of the day, though, as is so often the case in British horse racing it’s all just tinkering with the issues.

There are only enough horses good enough for a three-day Cheltenham Festival. And there aren’t enough mares good enough to split from the main events.

Sort that out, and the public will be happy to pay what Cheltenham want them to pay.

Hardcore top class action will always attract the people however hard times may be.

Diluted offerings won’t be accepted by those struggling in the current financial climate. And shouldn’t be handed to the people at any time.

Simples.

Now then, did you enjoy the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket? What a farce.

Don’t get me wrong here, plenty of people predicted low numbers might not be the kiss of death the statistics might have suggested in the big betting race.

But in the end the first horse home drawn high was in eighth place.

And seven horses in a group of eleven filled the first seven places at the end of the event.

If anyone thinks that is a competitive handicap they might just need a bit of help! A total joke.

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