De Royer-Dupre Proud Of Arc Hope

Alain de Royer-Dupre believes Pride's eyecatching turn of foot can do her justice in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday.

The six-year-old, who will be ridden by Christophe Lemaire, has no shortage of Arc experience after finishing down the field to Bago two years ago before encountering bad luck in-running in 2005.

The daughter of Peintre Celebre, herself a brilliant winner of the Arc in 1997, was checked at least twice approaching the straight and had to make do with seventh place behind Hurricane Run.

Moreover, Pride is best seen when there is a bit of cut in the ground as she neatly illustrated when becoming only the second horse to beat Hurricane Run in the Group One Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in June.

Despite finishing a close-up third to Shirocco and Hurricane Run in the Prix Foy, De Royer-Dupre is in bullish mood ahead of the Longchamp feature.

'Unlike the previous two years she has been deliberately targeted at the Arc,' he said.

'In the Prix Foy last time, when she was third to Shirocco and Hurricane Run, she had an easy race. We would very much like some rain though.

'Her principal weapon against the big three is her acceleration. She has already beaten Hurricane Run this year in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and that was down to her acceleration.

'I'm not worried about the potential lack of pace because one horse will have to make the running.

'Basically, she has the class but as usual, we need things to run in our favour.'

(C) PA Sport