Rain threat could hamper Arc plans
Rain in Paris is playing havoc with riding plans ahead of Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, with some of the main players hinting at a last minute switch or, in the case of Duke Of Marmalade, not running at all.
The weekend looks set to be a monumental one for the Ballydoyle stable of Aidan O'Brien with triple Ascot Gold Cup winner Yeats set to make his last racecourse appearance in tomorrow's Prix du Cadran.
Soft conditions could hinder Yeats's bid for a seventh Group 1 victory but O'Brien has warned that Johnny Murtagh's intended mount Duke Of Marmalade could be pulled out of the Arc if the ground turned testing by Sunday.
Both Duke Of Marmalade and Soldier Of Fortune will be declared for the race later today but O'Brien told the Racing Post: "If the ground changes after declaration time and it comes up soft, then there is every chance Duke Of Marmalade might not run. In those circumstances, Johnny would switch to Soldier Of Fortune."
Longchamp clerk of the course Christian Delporte reports the going to be good at the Bois De Boulogne track and has ruled out any prospect of watering.
He said: "There's certainly a risk of rain on Saturday night and Sunday morning."
O'Brien is also aiming unbeaten two-year-old Rip Van Winkle at Sunday's Group 1 Grand Criterium.
Tomorrow's Prix du Cadran is just about the only major staying race in Europe that Yeats hasn't won and the seven-year-old must overcome his conqueror of 12 months ago he if he is to right that wrong German-trained stayer Le Miracle is one of 10 opponents standing in his path before the 13-time winner retires to a well-earned life of stud duties.
