Arc set to be run on 'very soft' going with more rain expected at Longchamp

Longchamp officials are prepared for very soft going for Sunday’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (3.05), although the degree of give in the ground will depend on whether the top estimate of 10mm of rain arrives on Saturday.

The going was described as soft on Thursday after 1mm of rain overnight, with a GoingStick reading of 3.7. Data for Longchamp provided by Turftrax showed the softest ground was in the home straight, with the rest of the course closer to good to soft.

Rain is forecast for Paris on Friday night, with further showers through Saturday before it moves away on Sunday, according to Meteo-France, the country’s national meteorological service.

Clerk of the course Charles de Cordon said on Thursday: “The ground could get to very soft by Sunday, provided the forecast of 6-10mm of rain on Saturday proves accurate.”

De Cordon emphasised the horses competing on Sunday would be running on fresh ground that has not been used since the summer.

He said: “On Sunday the rail will be at its innermost position of zero metres – the last time this racing line was used was July 14 – and there will be a five-metre cutaway rail for the last 400 metres.

“Having been worked on throughout the summer to ensure as even a surface as possible, the grass was cut to a length of 10mm on Wednesday and rolled on Thursday.”

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