A 40-metre bar and English language commentary await Arc weekend visitors

The biggest pub in Paris, a plethora of new eating outlets, an easier way to bet and even English on-course commentary: these are just some of the ways in which Longchamp is rolling out the red carpet for the expected 'Enable Invasion' of British and Irish visitors this weekend.

France Galop announced a raft of new measures in July after taking a long, hard look at the areas that fell short of expectations for the first Arc back at the redeveloped track in 2018.

Complaints of long queues and outlets running out of food and drink marred what ought to have been a memorable experience as the Arc returned to its spiritual home and Enable held off Sea Of Class in a spellbinding finish.

Food trucks like the ones at the Thursday evening 'Jeuxdi' meetings, which regularly attract 10,000 people to Longchamp, will be deployed across the racecourse during Arc weekendCredit: Racing Post / Scott Burton

Addressing the major complaint about the amount of time people were forced to queue, France Galop director of marketing Fabrice Favetto Bon said on Friday: "The Guinness pub is superb and the bar stretches to almost 40 metres, while there are many more food outlets than last year.

"Also for those who want to avoid any queuing at all there are vouchers you can charge up on our website before arrival and then bet through your smartphone on the racecourse wifi. This is done in conjunction with Smart Turf."

France Galop director general Olivier Delloye (centre) listens as director of marketing Fabrice Favetto Bon explains the new services planned for Longchamp during Arc weekendCredit: Racing Post / Scott Burton

Perhaps the biggest innovation is the advent of bilingual commentary of events between and during races, with Darren Tulett providing the words in both English and French.

Sussex-born Tulett is well known in France as a football presenter and the host of Premier League highlights programme Match of Ze Day and more recently a familiar face on beIn Sports.

"We did a bilingual commentary through the day for the Grand Steeple Chase de Paris with double speakers and that worked well," said Favetto Bon.

Map of the Longchamp enclosures on Arc day: 1 Pelouse de l'Arrivee; 3 Jardin de l'Arc; 4 Village de l'Arc

For those who wish to exchange some of the less expensive general entry tickets to the Pelouse de l'Arrivee – the ground level of the stand, the lawn in front and the parade-ring steps behind – there will be two points at which an upgrade can be paid. Most outlets will take cash as well as credit and debit card.

There were fears after negative reaction from some British and Irish visitors that ticket sales would be affected this year but Favetto Bon reported business to be slightly ahead of 2018, with 41 per cent bought by British racegoers, exactly the same proportion as 12 months ago.

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