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O'Brien may have up to four runners in Sunday's Arc

AIDAN O’BRIEN could have up to four runners in Sunday’s €4 million Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, where ground conditions…

BRIAN O'CONNOR Racing correspondent
Wed Sept 29 2010 - 01:00

AIDAN O’BRIEN could have up to four runners in Sunday’s €4 million Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, where ground conditions for Europe’s most valuable race look set to be testing.

The going at the Paris track yesterday was rated “soft to very soft” and more rain is forecast for the area towards the weekend.

That didn’t prevent Aidan O’Brien leaving seven entries in the Arc at yesterday’s forfeit stage which saw 26 horses remaining in the race, although the French Derby hero, Lope De Vega, is also expected to be supplemented tomorrow.

Ireland’s champion trainer has confirmed Cape Blanco will join Fame And Glory on Sunday and the top French-based rider Christophe Soumillon is booked to team up with this year’s Irish Derby and Irish Champion Stakes winner.

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Dixie Music has run as Fame And Glory’s pacemaker already this season and could be joined in the Arc by the Irish Derby runner-up, Midas Touch.

With Johnny Murtagh staying on Fame And Glory, O’Brien has engaged Soumillon for Cape Blanco.

The Belgian-born jockey has struck at Group One level for Ballydoyle before when Dylan Thomas landed the 2007 Prix Ganay at Longchamp.

Soumillon is a dual-Arc winner on Dalakhani (2003) and Zarkava (2008.) His replacement as first jockey to the Aga Khan, Christophe Lemaire, has chosen to ride the Prix Niel winner Behkabad instead of Sarafina as he attempts to secure a first Arc success on Sunday.

Today’s home action at Sligo is a long way removed from that level but Wayne Lordan can take a step towards a half-century of winners for the year in Ireland aboard Tornedo Shay in the 10-furlong maiden.

In addition to a first Group One on Sole Power in the Nunthorpe at York, Lordan has notched up 48 winners at home and Tornedo Shay, winner of two of his seven bumpers, and Grade One placed behind Hidden Universe at Punchestown last April, should be up to winning a race where Dazzle Dancer sets a 73-rated standard.

Dermot Weld and Ruby Walsh team up for Prince Erik in the concluding Beginners Chase, while Maca Rince ran well off a 115 hurdles mark last time and can make a winning debut over fences in the Beginners Chase.

Gentleman Duke doesn’t have a great draw in the opening juvenile maiden but he does have course and distance experience and that could be crucial.