Cumani Arc Hope Withdrawn

Alkaased has been ruled out of Sunday´s Prix de l´Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp after an 11th-hour setback.

Luca Cumani´s five-year-old, winner of the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and runner-up in the Prix Foy last time, has an infected cut on his leg.

Although it is not a serious problem, Cumani will not have Alkaased back to full health in time for the French showpiece.

'He has an a little cut on his leg and despite all the preventative measures, it has become infected,' said the Bedford House handler on Friday.

'The horse was sore when he pulled out this morning and with the rules on medication you can use, we can´t get it right by Sunday so we have just had to grit our teeth.

'It is only a small problem but unfortunately we have had to take him out.

'I´m very disappointed for the owners, maybe I will get another chance, but I´m very disappointed for them.'

Cumani is expecting Alkaased to make a swift recovery and is already considering the Breeders´ Cup Turf at Belmont on October 29 as a possible target.

'There are plenty of options for him and the next could be the Breeders´ Cup or the Champion Stakes,' added Cumani.

(C) PA Sport