RACING/Longchamp preview: A maximum field of 20 in tomorrow's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the biggest for 10 years, indicates a lot of people think they can win France's greatest prize and Dermot Weld is entitled to believe it more than most with Grey Swallow.
Along with the Aidan O'Brien-trained outsider Acropolis, Grey Swallow flies the Irish flag in a race that has seen only four Irish-trained horses ever win out. And if Grey Swallow can add his name to that of Sinndar, Alleged (twice), Levmoss and Ballymoss, he will have done it the hard way.
Ever sine Pat Smullen guided him past North Light for that emotional Budweiser Irish Derby success in June, the Arc has been the target. But fate seems determined to make the grey colt work for it.
What had looked like an ideal warm up in the Irish Champion Stakes was enough to leave Grey Swallow "flat" for some days afterwards and with only three weeks between races it was hardly ideal preparation.
A work out earlier this week got the train back on track but then yesterday there was another irritant when the plane carrying Grey Swallow to Paris was diverted before finally depositing the colt onto terra firma. One consolation for Weld and Smullen, though, yesterday was the draw which saw them drawn in stall 11, in the middle alongside his old rival North Light. The French system of putting stall one next to the rail and working out means that that 11 box is okay and certainly something that both Acropolis (19) and the much fancied Prix Niel winner Valixir (20) can only envy.
There are two ways of looking at North Light's preparation for this as the ante-post favourite hasn't run since picking up an injury in the Irish Derby. Either he will be fresh for a race that can famously expose those going over the top or he might be rusty. At current odds it might be an expensive question to try and answer.
The Japanese runner Tap Dance City brings an even more international dimension to this Arc and it took an exceptional champion in Montjeu to get the better of the Japanese El Condor Pasa in 1999. But despite his presence, and that of the double Oaks heroine Ouija Board, as well as the Godolphin stayer Mamool, it could pay to side with the home team. Interestingly Bago's ultimate target all year has been the Breeders' Cup Classic, but after finishing only third in the Niel it must be significant that he comes here after all.
The best juvenile in Europe last season, he picked up two Group One prizes during the summer on the sort of quick ground he should get again now, and on proper going he still looks the class horse of the race.
Oratorio and Democratic Deficit are the Irish hopes in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagadere, formerly the Grand Criterium, and despite the latter's weight pull on Futurity form at the Curragh, Oratorio looks a progressive colt who might just be up to this Group One standard.
Aidan O'Brien and Jim Bolger are also represented in the Prix de l'Opera with Yesterday and Alexander Goldrun respectively, but the Moulin winner, Grey Lilas, sets the marker here while the enigmatic Holy Orders takes his chance against the likely red hot Prix Cadran favourite Westerner.
