Excitement Builds Ahead of Arc The excitement in anticipation of Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is beginning to grow as the week progresses and today the two main protagonists were the subject of encouraging reports from connections.Dalakhani, the general 7/4 favourite pleased his trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre in a seven furlong workout this morning. Royer-Dupre said ‘he went well’ while also making the point that the son of Darshaan seems to have improved since taking the Group 2 Prix Niel on his latest outing.Second favourite is of course High Chapparal. Winner of both starts this term, most recently when a courageous victor of the Irish Champion Stakes, last year’s dual Derby and Breeders’ Cup Turf hero has now recovered sufficiently from stiffness suffered in the wake of the Leopardstown success.As a consequence, trainer Aidan O’Brien is hopeful that the ground at Longchamp on Sunday will be safe although at the same time pointing out that the son of Sadler’s Wells handles fast ground well.Ballydoyle have six horses still left in the field at today’s forfeit stage where a total of twenty two have stood their ground. The sextet are High Chapparal, Black Sam Bellamy, Yesterday, Brian Boru, Dalcassian and Fontanesi. The second named is the most likely back-up to their chief contender.Meanwhile Alamshar has also been left in, though as has been stressed throughout, this is only as a plan b in case of anything stopping Dalakhani from participating. Of course both are owned by the Aga Khan. Irish St Leger hero, Vinnie Roe is still on course for the race.
