Horse Racing: The formidable Irish challenge for Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe remains on target despite the possibility of quick going at Longchamp.
High Chaparral and Vinnie Roe received the thumbs up from their trainers yesterday as they bid to become just the second Irish-trained winner of Europe's premier all-aged race in the last 25 years.
Paddy Power make High Chaparral their 2 to 1 second favourite to improve on his third placing in the Arc last year, and Aidan O'Brien played down worries about fast ground for his star colt.
"He goes on anything. It is more the next day rather than the race day itself that we get worried about," O'Brien said yesterday. "It was plenty quick at Leopardstown for the Irish Champion Stakes, and he was a little stiff afterwards, but he was fine on the day. It's dry enough in Paris at the moment, but good to firm ground would be okay for everyone. As long as it is safe we will be happy."
O'Brien could also run Black Sam Bellamy in the race.
Dermot Weld also committed the triple Irish Leger winner Vinnie Roe to the Arc, but conceded: "Rain would be a big help, even if it looks like we won't get it. It would put the emphasis on stamina, which would suit our horse.
"He is all set and in excellent condition. He has won three Irish Legers on fast ground so it doesn't bother him. But still, rain would help."
The Longchamp authorities were predicting good going yesterday with a relatively dry forecast for the Paris area.
Only Sinndar in 2000 has managed to bridge the gap for Ireland since Alleged won the second of his two Arcs in 1978.
Apart from Sunday's feature, the Ballydoyle team are pulling out the big guns for the Longchamp weekend, with Saturday's Ascot non-runner Necklace lined up for the Prix Marcel Boussac.
"We have a lot entered for the colts race (Prix Jean Luc Lagadere), but possibly Tycoon could run in that, and Yesterday is also a possible for the Prix de l'Opera over a mile and a quarter," O'Brien said.
Statue Of Liberty, taken out of Saturday's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes because of the going, is on schedule to reappear in the Group Two Prix Daniel Wildenstein on Saturday, and Middlemarch may run in a nine-furlong race on the same day.
Eddie Lynam's Red Feather, runner-up to Necklace in the Moyglare Stud Stakes, is being lined up to take in the Group One Boussac, but Dermot Weld won't make a final decision about Grey Swallow's possible participation in the Lagadere until Friday.
Before then, Aidan O'Brien will be heavily represented in Friday's Group One Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket. The Mill Reef runner-up Grand Reward is a likely starter, but the trainer added: "We could also run Old Deuteronomy or Colossus. We may well run more than one."
Weld has Perfect Touch in Saturday's Sun Chariot Stakes, but said yesterday he was favouring the Concorde Stakes option at Tipperary on Sunday.
The Curragh trainer won the Grade One Flower Bowl Handicap with Dimitrova at Belmont Park on Saturday night and was keen to pay tribute to his Breeders' Cup-bound filly.
"I have never known a filly put in the travelling she has done. She has gone to California, come back, flown out to the East Coast and run twice there, and will fly to California for the Breeders' Cup this week.
"Pine Dance did some amazing things and was like a yo-yo in America, running on dirt and grass, but Dimitrova is the only filly I know to do this," he said.
The Turf Club's appeals and referrals committee will this afternoon hear the appeals of John Murtagh and trainer Eddie Lynan into the sentences handed down after the running and riding of Dangle at the Curragh on National Stakes day. The hearing is scheduled for 3 p.m.
ARC BETTING: (Paddy Power): 7-4 Dalakhani, 2 High Chaparral, 9-2 Doyen, 8 Angel Gabriel, 12 Kris Kin, 14 Vinnie Roe, Mubtaker, 16 Bar.
