The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe will not return to its natural home at Longchamp for the 2017 season after it became apparent that the timeframe for the redevelopment of the course was not feasible.
Europe’s premier middle-distance race will be run at Chantilly next month with the builders, Bouygues, in the middle of the rebuilding programme, but it had been thought everything would be ready to return to the Paris venue next year.
However, the Racing Post reported on Tuesday that France Galop’s administrative council had earlier this week accepted that although the keys to the new development would be handed over two weeks before the Arc weekend, it was too close to be a realistic proposition. It was felt that with 60,000 spectators expected to attend the new untried venue it was too great a risk to take.
This year’s Arc will be run on 2 October at Chantilly, where the capacity will be reduced by around a third, to 40,000. No decision will be made on the venue for the 2017 renewal as that will be confirmed by France Galop’s administrative council only after this year’s running, but it would be a major surprise if Chantilly were not given the go-ahead.
Harzand had long been one of the favourites for next month’s Arc until he sustained a small injury in last weekend’s Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.
Pat Smullen, his jockey, reports that his Epsom Derby-winning mount “got knocked around and struck into behind, he was sore and lame after the race”, but believes there is every reason to be hopeful of him making the trip to Chantilly.
He told At The Races: “I must say that was a bit of a relief in that there was an excuse as to why he ran so poorly, but that said, he didn’t run that badly and wasn’t beaten that far – it was just unfortunate.
“Hopefully he’ll recover in time for the Arc and there’s no question that when he returns to a mile and a half we’ll see a better horse again. I’ve lost no confidence in him at all. It was an extremely good race, probably one of the best races I’ve ever ridden in, the pace we went the whole way, we kept quickening all the way.
“With the mishap as well, there were some positives to take from it, but we’ll put that behind us, move forward and I still think he’s a horse who could run a huge race in an Arc.
“He’s quite sore and he’ll need to recover quickly to get back in his training regime, but when I saw how sore he was after Epsom, I didn’t think he’d be running in an Irish Derby so he has a great constitution and healing powers.”
On the domestic front all eyes will be focused on Yarmouth on Wednesday when So Mi Dar returns to action after a 126-day absence.
Lady Lloyd-Webber’s exciting daughter of Dubawi has won all three of her starts and was among the favourites for the Oaks until she was ruled out through injury.
John Gosden, her trainer, brings her back in the Listed John Musker Fillies’ Stakes at the seaside course, but on form it won’t be easy for her as among her opponents is Arabian Queen, the top-rated horse in the race.
Arabian Queen achieved fame when she stunned the racing world by beating Golden Horn in the Juddmonte International at York last year. David Elsworth’s talented filly has not won in four subsequent outings, but if she can return to her form of last season it will be an interesting showdown at the Norfolk course.
Coincidentally Frankie Dettori was aboard Golden Horn on that memorable day on the Knavesmire and he will be on So Mi Dar on Wednesday.Yarmouth had to pass an inspection an hour before the first race on Tuesday, after a patch of false ground was discovered around the top of the straight, near the four-furlong marker. After a number of jockeys and trainers, including Ryan Moore, Jamie Spencer and David Simcock, together with officials, looked at the track, a decision was made to allow racing to be staged with only six races as opposed to the advertised seven.
Leading National Hunt trainer Tom George has announced that Adrian Heskin will be his first jockey this season. The Slad-based handler announced the news on his website: “Adrian has ridden nearly 200 winners in the UK and Ireland, including this year’s Albert Bartlett for Margaret Mullins, and previously the Festival Cross Country Chase and the Whitbread Gold Cup for former employer Michael Hourigan.
“At 24, this talented rider has got experience under his belt, ambition and we both greatly look forward to working with the horses here.“
George had enjoyed a successful relationship with Paddy Brennan in recent seasons and he added: “Paddy and I have had some big days together over the past seasons and I very much hope to be able to give him more winning rides in the future.”
