'The more rain the better' - team behind 40-1 Arc outsider thrilled about potential downpours at Longchamp

Connections of White Birch are hoping the rain pours this weekend at Longchamp as John Murphy's stable star gears up for a crack at Sunday's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

The talented grey ran a huge race on good to firm when third in the Derby behind Auguste Rodin in 2023, but his best efforts have tended to come on ground with ease in it, illustrated by his Group 1 triumph in last year's Tattersalls Gold Cup on good to yielding, when he reversed the Epsom form.

It has been stop-start since then, after an untimely setback cut his four-year-old campaign short. He reappeared in a high-class running of the Mooresbridge Stakes in May, when he finished a neck second to Los Angeles, and faced that rival again in the Tattersalls Gold Cup. But he enjoyed no luck, meeting plenty of traffic before staying on into fourth behind the same rival.

• Rain is forecast before Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe - but how much and what is the expected ground at Longchamp? 

• Who could thrive and who may be hindered in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe if the rain eases conditions? 

He made his return in the Irish Champion Stakes last month, finishing fifth, and George Murphy, assistant to his father John, is hoping that the rain at Longchamp will result in perfect conditions for the Ulysses colt.

"He's in great form and has arrived over [in France] very well in himself," he said. "We were happy enough with his run at Leopardstown. He probably got a bit tired after a break, and the ground dried out plenty, which wasn't ideal for him. There's rain to come, which will suit. The more the better."

White Birch: chased home Los Angeles at the Curragh earlier this seasonCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The five-year-old will be stepping up to a mile and a half for the first time in two years and will have Dylan Browne McMonagle doing the steering. Joseph O'Brien's stable jockey, who is leading the race to become Irish Flat champion jockey, will be riding in the Arc for the first time.

White Birch is a best-priced 40-1 chance to land the Arc for the Cork stable, which will be having its first runner in the Longchamp highlight.

Murphy said: "It's his first run over a mile and a half since he was a three-year-old and I think it should suit. It definitely won't hinder him anyway. We had him fairly straight for Leopardstown, but obviously he'd been off for a while, so you'd have to think he'll come on for it. 

"We were mad [keen] to go to the Arc last year but it didn't work out, so it's great to be here now. Dylan is a super rider and we're delighted to get him."

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (3.05 Longchamp, Sunday)
Paddy Power: 7-2 Minnie Hauk, 4 Aventure, 9 Sosie, 10 Byzantine Dream, Daryz, Kalpana, 12 Croix Du Nord, Cualificar, 14 Alohi Alii, Gezora, 20 Giavellotto, 22 Quisisana, 28 Los Angeles, 33 White Birch, 40 Leffard, 80 Arrow Eagle, Hotazhell

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Rain is forecast before Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe - but how much and what is the expected ground at Longchamp? 

Who could thrive and who may be hindered in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe if the rain eases conditions? 

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