Enable remains on course for Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe history bid

Enable is one of 22 left in Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp, in which she will bid for a historic third win.

John Gosden’s mare came so close to becoming the first horse to win Europe’s greatest race three times when caught late on by Waldgeist 12 months ago.

This season, she was beaten on her return in the Eclipse by Ghaiyyath, but has subsequently won a third King George at Ascot before an easy victory in the September Stakes at Kempton.

Gosden also has a strong second string in three-time Ascot Gold Cup winner Stradivarius, due to be ridden by Oliver Peslier, while the yard’s 2019 St Leger winner Logician – who only recently returned to action – has also been left in.

Enable is unlikely to be favourite this year, because she has to give weight to Aidan O’Brien’s Love, who has enjoyed the perfect season – winning over a mile in the 1000 Guineas, before also romping to victory in the Oaks at Epsom and adding the Yorkshire Oaks last time out.

She will, however, be facing by far her toughest task to date – especially because the ground in France is expected to be soft at the very least.

O’Brien could also run Mogul, who finally lived up to his reputation in the Grand Prix de Paris last time out, Japan and Sovereign.

The Ballydoyle trainer suggested at the weekend that his hugely impressive Derby winner Serpentine could also be supplemented on Wednesday.

Joseph O’Brien could be well represented – with Buckhurst, Crossfirehurricane, Thames River, Degraves and New York Girl left in.

Andre Fabre, having dashed Enable’s hopes last year with Waldgeist to win the race for a record eighth time, is due to run Persian King, who will be trying the trip for the first time.

Another of the big home hopes is Jean-Claude Rouget’s filly Raabihah, although she was no match for Dermot Weld’s Tarnawa in the Prix Vermeille. Telecaster, Deirdre, Sottsass and Way To Paris have also been left in.

Karl Burke believes the undulations of Newmarket contributed to Dandalla’s disappointing effort in the Cheveley Park Stakes.

The daughter of Dandy Man was a brilliant winner of the Albany Stakes in June and while she followed up with a gritty display in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes on the July Course, she was not nearly as impressive as at Royal Ascot.

Dandalla was nonetheless well fancied to extend her unbeaten record to four on her return to Headquarters on Saturday – but after travelling strongly for much of the race, she was ultimately well beaten in fifth place.

Burke said: “She’s fine. She trotted up sound and ate up, and there’s nothing untoward. We think she ran a very similar race to what she did at the July meeting.

“She changed her legs three times as soon as she started running downhill from the bushes, and just didn’t really lengthen.

“I’m not saying for one minute we would have got near the leaders, but it’s probably not her track.’’

The Spigot Lodge handler plans to give his filly a break before bringing her back next spring – and remains confident there is plenty to look forward to.

He added: “We won’t run her again this year. We’ll prepare her for a spring campaign and probably have a go at one of the seven-furlong Guineas trials and take the season from there.

Jockey Phil Dennis rode a 2,948-1 four-timer at Newcastle last night as he piloted Clifftop Heaven (9-4), Lord of the Glen (9-4 fav), Top Attraction (10-1) and Star Cracker (14-1) to victory at Gosforth Park.

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James Mitchinson