'If he wins then he's in' - Merchant team hoping Prix Niel run can keep Arc dream alive

The team behind Merchant are hoping they can take advantage of the win-and-you're-in conditions of next Sunday's Prix Niel and earn a last-minute spot in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. 

Highclere Racing's star stormed on to the scene with victory in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and followed up with a gutsy success in Group 3 company when landing the Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood a month later.

After that victory his trainer William Haggas said: "He's not in the Arc but he can be. It's not certain to happen but it's not certain not to happen. We see him as next year's horse as well."

Merchant ranges from 25-1 to 50-1 for the Arc and connections are hoping the fact he doesn't hold an entry will be solved with victory on the race's official trials day next week.

"My team were at the stables on Thursday morning and William reports him to be in really good form and on course to run in the Prix Niel," said Highclere's racing manager Harry Herbert.

"The race is a win-and-you're-in for the Arc. When the entries closed he was rated 82, so he was never going to be an early entry. It shows how ridiculous these systems are for the big races sometimes. If he wins the Niel then he's in, and if he doesn't win then he isn't going to win an Arc. We're very much going down that route and fingers crossed we haven't seen the end of his improvement. 

Harry Herbert: "If he can win, what an excitement it will be for the syndicate to potentially have a runner in the Arc"Credit: Laura Green

"Physically he looks great and we're hoping for a lot of luck and a win next Sunday. If he can win, what an excitement it will be for the syndicate to potentially have a runner in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, but it's one step at a time." 

Possible rivals to Merchant at Longchamp include fellow Royal Ascot winner Amiloc, the Grand Prix de Paris victor Leffard, and a plethora of Aidan O'Brien entries, including Lambourn and Scandinavia. 

The last horse to win the Niel and Arc in the same season was Rail Link in 2006. Sottsass won the race in 2019 before landing the Arc the following year.

Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, (Longchamp, October 5)
Sky Bet: 5 Kalpana, 8 Minnie Hauk*, Whirl* 16 Aventure, Croix Du Nord, Sosie, 20 Delacroix, Gezora, 22 Leffard, 25 bar.
*needs to be supplemented

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