Rouget still leaning towards Ascot over Arc for Irish Champion hero

Almanzor: by no means certain to line up in the Arc after his Irish Champion victoryCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Jean-Claude Rouget has warned he is still not persuaded of the case for diverting impressive Irish Champion Stakes winner Almanzor to the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Almanzor is second favourite for the Arc behind Postponed, with his price ranging between 3-1 and 6-1, following his defeat of Found and Minding at Leopardstown, an occasion Rouget described on Sunday as “an incredible high”.

Rouget’s plan had been to send Almanzor to Leopardstown and then to Ascot for the Qipco Champion Stakes, while keeping dual Classic winner La Cressonniere – who is in the same joint-ownership of Gerard Augustin-Normand and Antonio Caro – for the Arc.

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Scott BurtonFrance correspondent

Published on 11 September 2016inIrish Champions Festival

Last updated 18:38, 11 September 2016

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