GRANADA finally pledged its support to this year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe yesterday when it was announced the race will be run under the Forte Meridien banner.
The hotels and TV group ended months of speculation over the future of this season's event by wholly committing itself to Europe's premier all aged contest.
After Granada won an acrimonious battle for control of the Forte group, it indicated that it had no interest in seeing through the final year of Forte's three-year backing of the Arc. But following the company's recent decision to keep Meridien hotels, which includes a large chain in France, it has agreed to back the big race as well.
As usual it has attracted the cream of Europe's middle distance talent with 155 entries, of which 46 per cent are trained in France, 43 per cent in Britain, and three in the US including the 1995 Breeders Cup turf winner Northern Spur.
Among Britain's best hopes will be Riyadian, whose trainer Paul Cole will be making another attempt to land the prize.
