Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe: Luxembourg, Adayar and Alpinista among 27 in contention at ParisLongchamp

The King George winner will break from stall 14, historically an unfavourable draw, in Sunday's £4.5million Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Paris-Longchamp Hukum and Jim Crowley (right): have a wide draw in the Arc Britain's top candidate for the Arc has been set a mighty task even before Sunday's £4.5million showpiece. King George winner Hukum was…

The Owen Burrows-trained six-year-old won the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot when last seen in July, having beaten Derby hero Desert Crown in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown, when both horses were returning from long absences. However, Hukum did not enjoy much luck in Thursday's draw ceremony, with only Simca Mille on his…

Bay Bridge is set to be a high-quality addition to the British challenge for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe next Sunday, after connections confirmed last year's Champion Stakes hero was on course for Longchamp as long as conditions do not get too quick. He will bid to add a second Arc success to Sir Michael Stoute's glittering CV, 13 years on…

There is no mistaking a race's significance when two of the last three winners have gone on to land the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the other took the Breeders' Cup Turf. So it is worth paying close attention to Sunday's Westminster 133rd Grosser Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten, which went to Torquator Tasso in 2020, Alpinista in 2021 and Rebel's…

This is the sole race with a flag start at the meeting, with Calling The Wind bidding for a second win in the contest two years after a comfortable victory over Withhold before going on to better things. Having hit the frame in multiple big-race handicaps including the 2021 Cesarewitch (third) and this year's Ascot Stakes (second), he deservedly…

William Muir is confident Pyledriver will not give up his crown without a fight in a mouthwatering renewal of the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes. The six-year-old produced one of the most popular results of last season when downing several supposed bigger guns in Ascot's midsummer highlight, his second Group One win after the 2021…

Dual-Derby hero Auguste Rodin is one of the favourites for Saturday's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes, although his trainer, Aidan O'Brien, is covering all generational bases. Ascot's midsummer feature, first run in 1951, was designed as British racing's ultimate clash between the classic generation and their elders. Three-year-olds…

With less than a week to go to the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, Sunday is a key day in the preparation of favourite Hukum. But for Owen Burrows, the trainer of Shadwell's latest star, the increased anxiety is not because of a crucial piece of fast work, or a final veterinary check, but because of thunderstorms forecast in Berkshire on…

One-time Derby favourite Arrest could head to Royal Ascot after the forecast of rain led the Juddmonte colt to be given a surprising entry in the Queen's Vase on Wednesday. The son of Frankel finished tenth when attempting to deliver Frankie Dettori a final victory in the Epsom Classic and was due to take on winner August Rodin once more in the…

Caernarfon has been one of the best backed horses of the day in the Qipco 1000 Guineas (3.40) as she bids to give burgeoning trainer Jack Channon his breakthrough Classic winner. Channon, who took over the licence outright from his dad Mick in the new year, has made a flying start to his training career, saddling 12 winners already. He will be…

It's fair to say the weather's been as tricky to forecast as picking the winner of the Grand National. This season's National Hunt calendar has been hampered by freezing conditions on both sides of the Irish Sea, while a lack of rain during the winter months has meant quicker ground than normal. Cheltenham clerk of the course Jon Pullin described…

The runners line up at the start of the 2021 Ladbrokes King George Chase at Kempton A band of rain due to sweep across Britain and Ireland on Thursday and Friday looks to hold the key to likely going conditions for the major festive meetings in the two countries. Officials at Kempton are expecting the going to ease from the current good to soft…

ARC de Triomphe bosses have been slammed for their decision to water the ground at Longchamp - despite a terrible weather forecast. The going at the famous racecourse in Paris is now officially'Very Soft' after overnight rain on Tuesday. Track officials decided to put 5mm of water on parts of the track on Sunday afternoon. But it has barely stopped…

It is perhaps the most exclusive club in Irish racing and Luxembourg is favourite to join it in Sunday's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Over the decades just seven Irish trained horses have won Europe's most coveted all-aged prize. Beginning with Ballymoss in 1958, up to Found leading home a unique Aidan O'Brien 1-2-3 in 2016, the Arc…

All the major contenders stood their ground at the first forfeit stage ahead of the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, with 27 horses remaining in Sunday's ParisLongchamp highlight. Australian star Verry Elleegant is set to be supplemented on Wednesday with a maximum field of 20 allowed. Aidan O'Brien's Luxembourg, the Mark Prescott-trained…

John and Thady Gosden's star stayer Stradivarius has been retired to stud. The popular chestnut won the Gold Cup at Ascot three times as well as landing four Goodwood Cups, three Yorkshire Cups and two Doncaster Cups. Owned by Bjorn Nielsen, he will now join the National Stud as a stallion. The eight-year-old has run gallant races, twice behind…

Australian star Verry Elleegant is set to be supplemented on Wednesday with a maximum field of 20 allowed. Aidan O'Brien's Luxembourg, the Sir Mark Prescott-trained Alpinista and Adayar from Charlie Appleby's yard are towards the head of the ante-post betting and all remain on course. There is a strong Japanese challenge with Titleholder, Do Deuce,…

There are three types of odds-on favourite. One you think will win but the price is wrong, one you think will win but the price is right and one you fancy has a greater chance of losing than winning. Hardwicke Stakes favourite Hurricane Lane is placed in the third category and arguably should be odds against. That is not to crab Hurricane Lane. The…

Court Maid won't be making her debut for the Henry De Bromhead stable in the Randox Grand National - as the trainer confirmed the mare will be missing from the final 40-strong field at Aintree Racecourse. De Bromhead saddled a one-two in the Aintree showpiece last year with Minella Times helping Rachael Blackmore to become the first female rider to…

Wet weather at Cheltenham Racecourse on Ladies Day led to the ground turning soft before the first race started, which was won by the Willie Mullins-trained Sir Gerhard Champion trainer Paul Nicholls hit out at the decision to water at Cheltenham with rain on the forecast. The Ditcheat handler withdrew his leading contender Bravemansgame from his…

There was mild controversy at Cheltenham on Wednesday after officials watered the track on Tuesday evening only for rain to fall all day turning the ground heavy. Such was the volume of rain which hit the Prestbury Park track throughout the afternoon, the ground would likely have turned heavy even without the five millimetres which clerk of the…

Cheltenham Festival: starts on March 15 Cheltenham clerk of the course Jon Pullin believes his team are well placed to ensure this year's festival begins on natural good to soft ground. The going is currently a combination of soft and good to soft on the Old and New courses, with the former raced on for the first two days of the festival, while the…

Aidan O'Brien feels the forecast rain in Paris will suit his leading Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe fancy Snowfall better than her rivals after the filly was officially supplemented alongside Derby and King George hero Adayar for Sunday's showpiece at a cost of €120000 on Wednesday. The dual Oaks winner was turned over at odds of 1-5 by Teona in a…

Sunday's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe could be run on soft ground, the man in charge of track conditions warned on Tuesday after the latest forecast predicted more rain will fall at Longchamp this weekend than had previously been expected. Soft ground would be unlikely to hinder Tarnawa or Hurricane Lane, who have both won in France in the last…

Big-race reminders of Boxing Day's past: statues of King George winners Desert Orchid (left) and Kauto Star stand guard in the Kempton parade ring Kempton's clerk of the course Barney Clifford anticipates soft ground for the start of the two-day Ladbrokes Christmas festival on Thursday. Clifford feels the ground has dried out at the Sunbury track…