Latest Arc news

Connections of Workforce are upbeat about a much improved performance from the Derby winner in Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp.

He will be having his first run since beating just one home in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes in July.

However, he has a fairly grim statistic to overcome as trainer Sir Michael Stoute has still to send out a winner of the Arc, coming closest with Pilsudski in 1996 and 1997.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, said: "Sir Michael seems very positive about the horse and is very pleased the way he's come on since the King George, which was very disappointing.

"The horse seems to have done all the right things. He had a good break and has had a very straightforward preparation."

While conscious of predictions for very testing ground, Grimthorpe is not too concerned about the forecast.

He added: "He moves nicely and he has a good flowing action. We have had plenty of rain at Newmarket - the ground on the racecourse is officially soft.

"I don't know what the ground was on the gallops (when he worked on Thursday), but it would have been somewhere around that."

William Buick will bid to cap a dream first season as stable jockey to John Gosden when he takes the ride on Duncan.

The youngster will be having his maiden outing in the Longchamp showpiece but has shown more than once this year he is not fazed by the big occasion.

Buick, 22, hit the mark with Dar Re Mi in the

The day after his heroics in the world's oldest Classic, Buick travelled across to Longchamp to take in the Prix Foy with Duncan, gamely making most and fighting back to see off Nakayama Festa over the Arc course and distance in a career-best effort.

While recognising Duncan has to step up again, Buick does expect a bold show.

He said: "I hope he runs well. It's an open race but a tough race, with 20-odd runners in it.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he finished in the first five and I'd be pleased with that."

Duncan features among a final field of 20 runners in Europe's premier middle-distance contest but connections are unlikely to be pleased with stall 16 in a race where a low draw is normally favoured.

Favourite Behkabad is in stall nine, next to Workforce who is in stall eight.

Sarafina is another with a decent draw in stall three, but Youmzain, runner-up in the last three renewals, is in stall 12 and the last winner from a double-figure draw was Dalakhani in 2003.

Aidan O'Brien's main hope, Fame And Glory, is drawn right on the rail in stall one.

His big-race jockey Johnny Murtagh tasted Arc glory on Sinndar in 2000 and he is excited about his chances this time around.

"He's in good form. Seamus (Heffernan) rode him work the other morning and told me he was very happy with him," said Murtagh.

"This has been his main target all year. He ran in the race last year (sixth) and it was great everyone decided to keep him in training and target Longchamp again. Please god, Sunday will be his day.

"He's definitely strengthened up a lot since last year and he's a different horse now.

"Zarkava and Sea The Stars have won it the last two years and we hope Fame And Glory is the superstar this year.

"I wouldn't be too worried about the ground. I think he's very adaptable and very straightforward, so I think he'll go on any ground really."

O'Brien also saddles Irish Champion Stakes hero Cape Blanco (stall 11), the mount of Christophe Soumillon, as well as likely pacemaker Midas Touch.

Freddie Head saddles Marinous, who had subsequent Canadian International winner Redwood behind when winning the Grand Prix De Deauville on his latest appearance.

"He's very well and has kept his form well. He stays and will like the ground," said Head.

"We'll see what happens. He's not got a top-class chance but he should run well.

"It is a big step up though and I'll be delighted if my horse is in the first five."