Manduro Injured In Arc Prep

Manduro's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hopes looked in tatters last night after the brilliant colt suffered an injury in winning the Prix Foy at Longchamp.

Both Coral and Ladbrokes issued revised prices on Europe's middle-distance championship following informed speculation all was not well with him in the wake of what was an effortless trial success.

The Andre Fabre-trained five-year-old ? the highest-rated horse in the world ? was winning over a mile and a half for the first time in beating the top-class filly Mandesha by two and a half lengths.

Paul Harley, racing manager to owner Baron Georg Von Ullman, declined to comment, but reports from the racecourse suggested the horse was lame behind on his right leg with a suspected fracture, and that connections were waiting to see X-ray results before making any statement, which is expected today.

And Fabre told www.racingpost.co.uk: 'I don't know the results of the examination yet but he was lame behind after the race and has probably suffered a small fracture.'

Coral spokesman Simon Clare said: 'Given it appears the horse picked up an injury during the race, it seems unfair to profit from such a disappointing outcome.

'We took a number of bets after the race and all of those will be refunded.'

His Ladbrokes counterpart David Williams added: 'Manduro has captured the imagination of punters and it's a crushing blow for his army of ante-post fans.'

Authorized is now Coral's 13-8 favourite for the Arc, with Ladbrokes going 6-4 about Peter Chapple-Hyam's brilliant Epsom Derby winner.

Soldier Of Fortune, winner of the Prix Niel, is the 7-2 second-favourite with Coral, while Ladbrokes go just 5-2.

(C) PA Sport