The challengers: Fabre not concerned about soft ground for consistent Waldgeist

Among the many bridesmaids to have attended Enable's repeat Group 1 weddings, Waldgeist has rarely been favoured with his ideal conditions.

The five-year-old was fourth in this race 12 months ago on a shifting surface and having not got the clearest of runs.

The rain came again on two trips to Ascot over the summer, though Pierre-Charles Boudot managed to close dramatically on the duelling Enable and Crystal Ocean late on to be beaten only two lengths in the King George.

Andre Fabre believes too much has been made of a need for fast ground, pointing that Waldgeist was widely perceived as needing opposite conditions before this season.

"To be fair he won on very soft ground at two [in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud] and when he won the Ganay it was a bit of a discovery for me that he could run so well on good ground," said Fabre. "But it doesn't mean that he won't handle it if it is soft. I am pleased with him and everything has gone well."

French to be King for a day?

Olivier Peslier has seen his share of the record number of wins in the Arc left in the dust by his great friend Frankie Dettori by the efforts of Enable.

His chances of adding to four previous victories rest with French King, who has continued to improve while kept away from the spotlight by trainer Alex Pantall.

"We are going up against stronger opposition here but we’ll give it a go," said Pantall. "I wanted to avoid too many tough races with him which is why we have been running him in Germany, so he is a fresh horse and ready to run his race. He's not really ground-dependent, so that won't be an excuse."

Soft Light could be next year's horse

The sporting decision of Soft Light's owner Claudio Marzocco to pay the €120,000 supplementary fee hasn't caused many ripples in the markets but the second string for Jean-Claude Rouget has improved throughout his three-year-old campaign, despite going winless in six starts.

Rouget said: "He will be running to get in the minor money. We’ll try not to abuse him because I think he’ll make a very good four-year-old. He is a brave horse and, behind the three or four big talents, everyone will be fighting for fifth place."

Nagano Gold a first Czech runner

Nagano Gold, a luckless second to Defoe in the Hardwicke Stakes, is expected to improve plenty from his last run when third at Deauville with trainer Vaclav Luka having left plenty to work on.

Nagano Gold (right) goes down by half a length to Defoe at Ascot in JuneCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Stable racing manager Thomas Janda said: "He prefers a more galloping track like Ascot or Longchamp but the biggest problem was the lack of pace. He needs a fast race and he is a real mile and a half horse with plenty of stamina. I don't know whether heavy ground would be perfect but he is fine on soft."

Japan's trio should not be overlooked

In the absence of the mighty Almond Eye, bookmakers appear to have almost totally discounted the chances of Japan's three challengers, though all three boast solid Grade 1 form at home.

Kiseki ran a fairly lifeless trial in the Prix Foy when third to Waldgeist but his two subsequent pieces of work in Chantilly have been more encouraging.

Trainer Katsuhiko Sumii said: "Kiseki is in good form, he is supple and moving well so I am hopeful.

"Ideally I would like him to be able to get a lead as I know that in Europe you can become a target if you are out in front on your own."

Blast Onepiece showed a good turn of foot to land the Grade 2 Sapporo Kinen in August, where he defeated fellow Arc challenger Fierement in third.

Trainer Masahiro Otake said: "In his last race, I felt he was in great condition, as good as at anytime in his career. I think he has the same ability as the top European top horses, that's why we brought him here."

Fierement is the shortest of the three Japanese contenders in the betting, and trainer Takahisa Tezuka said: "I think he is going into the Arc in a very good condition. It is a race that requires stamina and he has won a two-mile race, but we think 1m4f is the best distance for him."

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