Enable out on her own in Arc betting as Almanzor and Brametot flop at Deauville

Dual Oaks and King George winner Enable is a general 5-4 for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after her two main market rivals, Almanzor and Brametot, turned in bitterly disappointing performances at Deauville on Tuesday.

John Gosden's star filly had started the day as big as 9-4 for the Chantilly showpiece but is now odds-on with one bookmaker and no bigger than 6-4 after the Jean-Claude Rouget pair flopped in their respective races, leading the trainer to hint at retirement for last year's champion three-year-old colt Almanzor.

In contrast Almanzor and Brametot, who had been no bigger than 6-1 and 8-1 for the Arc, can now both be backed at 20-1.

An outbreak of the deadly EHV-1 virus in April in his barn and then a physical setback the following month has blighted the campaign of Almanzor, winner last season of the Irish Champion Stakes and the Ascot equivalent, and Rouget's response to his defeat carried an air of resignation.

“Fortunately I’ve been in this profession for 40 years,” he said. “I can’t say why but this morning I really had the feeling that today wouldn’t be our day and it turns out I was right.

"It is very difficult for Almanzor. It is so hard to bring a horse to a race like this after being stopped for ten months, it’s impossible.

“He rose to such heights at three it is difficult to get that back. People talk about racehorses like they are racing cars but if a car’s engine begins to tire, you take it out and replace it.

"You have to remember the best of times with him and they were really very good. The race at Leopardstown was the best field I have ever seen and he beat them all so well, you have to remember that when you think of his future as a stallion.

"No decision has been made and we’ll have to talk with all the partners, but he seems to have come back to the stables fine.”

Chris Wall delivered the opening strike against Gallic pride when First Sitting won the Group 3 Prix Gontaut-Biron, with Almanzor looking a pale reflection of his old self as he trailed in last.

Rouget was on the receiving end again 45 minutes later as his Prix du Jockey Club hero Brametot fell out of the stalls in the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano and could manage only fifth behind the Martyn Meade-trained Eminent, who was given a fine front-running ride by Ryan Moore to hold off fellow British raider Salouen.

Eminent is a now general 16-1 chance for the Arc and is no bigger than 12-1 for the Champion Stakes three weeks later.

Meade said: “He has had two unlucky goes: Sandown was a terrible race for him and it went pretty badly for him in the Derby where he didn’t get a proper run.

"Now we have seen what he's really made of. I'm thrilled to bits and it's a race that suited him down to the ground, got his confidence going and proved that he's the horse we always thought he was. He added: "He'll go to Ascot or maybe come back to France in October.”

Eminent and Ryan Moore clear away from Salouen in the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano

Brametot was having his first start since snatching the Prix du Jockey Club – where he forfeited ground at the start – and the colt did the same on Tuesday.

His jockey Cristian Demuro learned on this racecourse last year that his mount refuses to be bullied in such circumstances, but this time the early deficit was ten lengths and, with Eminent and Salouen cutting out fast fractions from the outset, Brametot was never really able to get competitive.

“When you give away that sort of ground at the start it is catastrophic,” said Rouget.

Slow-starting Brametot (silver) gave away many lengths at the start of the Prix Guillaume d'OrnanoCredit: Alan Crowhurst

"Brametot’s race was as I had foreseen. With eight runners and a good pace it is just impossible to give away that ground at the start.

"The home straight is short here, unlike Chantilly. We will see what happens with him going forward.”

When asked if he felt that Brametot might have been short of fitness, Rouget countered: “He only needs a normal amount of work and he has run regularly, while he was never really let down after the Jockey Club.

"It’s two months between the two races and it is difficult to keep these horses at such a level all through the season.”

Deauville results