No Rain Dance From Shawanda Team

Alain de Royer-Dupre is keeping his fingers crossed the heavens do not open over Longchamp ahead of Shawanda´s bid to become the first filly to win the Prix de l´Arc de Triomphe since Urban Sea in 1993.

The trainer said that while she had worked well on Tuesday and come on a lot since her victory in the Prix Vermeille earlier this month, he was praying there would be no rain as it would be a real test for the daughter of Sinndar.

'She worked really well this morning but the real worry is the weather, which we have no control over,' said de Royer-Dupre, who landed the Arc with the Aga Khan´s Dalakhani in 2003.

'She has a lot of class but she has not raced in soft or heavy conditions so it is unknown territory. Longchamp can be a real bog when it rains and a real test of stamina.'

However, he insisted she would line up on Sunday regardless.

'She will run whatever happens with the weather,' added the trainer, who will also run Pride.

Shawanda, who came in for support with William Hill, was one of 18 horses to stand their ground at the five-day stage, with no notable exceptions.

As expected Ed Dunlop´s Ouija Board, third in the Arc last year and an impressive winner at Newmarket last Saturday, has been taken out.

Hurricane Run, the 5-2 market leader with Coral and Hills, heads a high-quality field.

(C) PA Sport