France Galop defends price rises for Arc day on the race's return to Longchamp

France Galop on Monday defended a 150 per cent rise in standard ticket prices at Longchamp on Arc day, when the redeveloped course stages Europe's foremost Flat race for the first time in three years.

Advance general tickets cost €30 when the Arc was run at Chantilly last year, but racegoers will have to find €75 for the equivalent in Paris on October 7, triggering a critical response from British racegoers on social media.

But France Galop insisted the enhanced facilities and global renown of the race justified the increase in pricing and said advanced sales had already outstripped those at a similar stage in 2015, when the general price was €20.