'Soft ground doesn't catch her out' - O'Brien relishing conditions for Snowfall

Aidan O'Brien feels the forecast rain in Paris will suit his leading Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe fancy Snowfall better than her rivals after the filly was officially supplemented alongside Derby and King George hero Adayar for Sunday's showpiece at a cost of €120,000 on Wednesday.

The dual Oaks winner was turned over at odds of 1-5 by Teona in a muddling Prix Vermeille at Longchamp this month, but O'Brien is confident a very different set of circumstances will see her in a different light in the Arc and said on Wednesday that he had no ground or tactical concerns.

Snowfall posted a Racing Post Rating of 123 – 14lb better than her previous best – when routing her opposition to win the Oaks at Epsom by a record margin of 16 lengths on rain-softened ground, and there is likely to be a similar ease in conditions when she runs in Europe's middle-distance highlight on Sunday.

3.05 Longchamp Sunday: Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe racecard and betting

O'Brien said: "It was always the plan to supplement Snowfall for the Arc and we're very happy with her. We've been very happy with her since Longchamp and everything has gone well.

"We were very worried about the soft ground going to Epsom, but obviously she handled it well. She's a filly who stays very well and, while soft ground can catch out some horses, it doesn't catch her out. Having said that, she's ground-versatile and I don't think she needs soft ground."

The Paris weather continued to hold out on Wednesday morning after Longchamp received just 2.5mm of rain in the previous 24 hours, although forecasters continue to warn of worsening conditions at the weekend.

Who will win the 2021 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe based on previous trends?

A measurement of 3.5 or soft on the French penetrometer has been issued, while TurfTrax gave a GoingStick reading of 7.2 (good to soft, good in places).

Conditions could begin to deteriorate on Friday afternoon, with as much as 30mm possible between then and Sunday afternoon, although the forecast remains uncertain.

The field for the Arc has been taking shape since Monday, with all 14 horses left in at the first forfeit stage still in contention alongside Wednesday's two additions, Snowfall and Adayar.

Supplementary entries: how have they fared in the Arc?

Since 2006, 24 horses have been supplemented for the Arc, with four proving successful.

Danedream (2011), Treve (2013), Golden Horn (2015) and Enable (2017) all triumphed after being added to the line-up after the official entry stage.

Sea Of Class, another late addition to the Arc in 2018, finished a close second behind Enable.

The Arc will certainly have a different complexion to the Vermeille, the Group 1 in which Snowfall was surprisingly beaten this month.

Reflecting on that shock defeat, O'Brien said: "She ran well. It was a slowly run race and Frankie took his time on her. The last time Frankie rode her was in the Oaks when it was a strongly run race on soft ground. Longchamp was a slowly run race on quickish ground so it was a completely different set of circumstances.

"We were delighted with her run and delighted that we ran her because we saw how she behaved on better ground on a track like Longchamp. That's always an advantage ahead of a big race. Sometimes it's better to be beaten when things go wrong than to win when everything goes right."

O'Brien will also be represented by Love, who was ruled out of the race at the eleventh hour 12 months ago, and Broome, who is expected to be ridden forward.

O'Brien said: "The plan is for Love to run. She has been running well all year and had a very good run in the Blandford Stakes when she gave a filly [La Petite Coco] rated 110 9lb. That was a big effort and we're looking forward to running her.

"This has been the plan all year for Broome, and he stays very well and can be ridden forward."

Love: Aidan O'Brien was happy with her second in the Blandford Stakes last timeCredit: Patrick McCann

On the tactical scenario which may play out in the Arc, he added: "Usually they go a nice even pace. Deep Bond made the running in his trial and he could be ridden forward again. Broome will be ridden forward as well. Usually in those big championship races the pace is even and level enough."

Also lining up in the Arc will be Derby and St Leger second Mojo Star, with connections opting to head to France instead of Ascot on Friday.

Emily Scott, racing manager for owner Amo Racing, said: "It's quite exciting. He's proven over the trip and is the type of horse to take to a race like the Arc.

"Richard [Hannon] is really pleased with him and he's such a straightforward horse. He's done so well in these races this season we think it's right to pitch him in at this level again."

Adayar remained the joint 5-2 favourite for the Arc with Paddy Power on Wednesday, with Snowfall a 5-1 chance and Mojo Star available at 66-1.

Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: "After the two big guns were added as expected today, we're still unable to separate Adayar and Tarnawa at the front of the market, with the latter currently being our biggest loser in the race."

Away from the feature race, O'Brien expects to have just a handful of runners at Longchamp this weekend, with promising juvenile History, who has been entered in the Prix Marcel Boussac, not one of them.

Speaking of his Longchamp team, he said: "History won't run in the Prix Marcel Boussac, she wasn't 100 per cent sound this morning.

"Passion and Willow will run in the Prix de Royallieu. Passion stays well and we haven't seen the best of her yet. We always thought that Willow would stay this trip and she's very well bred.

Joan Of Arc: 'I think you can put a line through her last run'Credit: Racing Post/Scott Burton

"Joan Of Arc could run in the Prix de l'Opera. We think a mile and a half was too far for her in the Prix Vermeille, which is why we're coming back to a mile and a quarter. That should suit her well. She gets the trip well and she likes to be ridden forward. I think you can put a line through her last run as the race was a little bit of a mess.

"Bluegrass is a possible for the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. If he didn't run, we could run Stone Age instead. We'll make a decision in the morning."

Coming up on Thursday: Arc declarations, confirmed jockey bookings and draw announcements

Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Longchamp, October 3)

Coral: 5-2 Adayar, 11-4 Tarnawa, 9-2 Hurricane Lane, 11-2 Snowfall, 9 Chrono Genesis, 16 Love, Teona, 20 Deep Bond, 25 Raabibah, 33 Sealiway, Alenquer, 50 Mojo Star, Torquator Tasso, 66 Broome, Bubble Gift, 80 Baby Rider

Arc field: third forfeits

Torquator Tasso (GER) Rene Piechulek
Deep Bond (JPN) Mickael Barzalona
Broome (IRE) Yutaka Take
Tarnawa (IRE) Christophe Soumillon
Love (IRE) Frankie Dettori
Raabihah (FR) Cristian Demuro
Chrono Genesis (JPN) Oisin Murphy
Mojo Star (GB) jockey TBC
Baby Rider (FR) jockey TBC
Adayar (GB)William Buick
Hurricane Lane (GB) James Doyle
Sealiway (FR) Franck Blondel
Alenquer (GB) Tom Marquand
Bubble Gift (FR) Gerald Mosse
Snowfall (IRE)Ryan Moore
Teona (GB) Olivier Peslier

Read more on the 2021 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe:

Oisin Murphy thrilled by first meeting with Japanese Arc hope Chrono Genesis

2021 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe tips: why this horse can win Sunday's big race

2021 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe: essential info for the big race at Longchamp

Dermot Weld: Tarnawa is very well but Chrono Genesis could be hard to beat (Members' Club)

'He holds some brilliant form' – Marquand excited about Arc dark horse Alenquer

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