Postponed faces date with destiny in Europe's greatest race

It is just short of 300 years since Louis Henri, Duc de Bourbon, asked architect Jean Aubert to build him a huge palatial stable complex, on the perfectly reasonable basis he expected to be reincarnated as a horse.

Assuming regal Louis did in death gain a tail, mane and four fetlocks, and following a few further equine reincarnations, he will today look out from his jaw-dropping Grandes Ecuries home to witness a sporting contest worthy of being held against such a sumptuous backdrop.

For this afternoon, 24 miles north-east of Paris, the finest chapter yet will be written into the story of Chantilly racecourse as the track hosts Europe's premier test of the thoroughbred, the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.