The Workforce formula: Juddmonte hoping Westover 'can run a big one' in Arc

Juddmonte are hoping the tried-and-tested Workforce formula can provide the answer to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sunday week, with confidence high Westover can bounce right back from his below-par King George display.

Arc victory for the Irish Derby hero would ensure the late Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte operation becomes the most successful in the illustrious history of the Longchamp showpiece.

The famous green, white and pink silks were first successful in the Arc in 1985 with Rainbow Quest, who gained a landmark win when first-past-the-post Sagace was demoted to second for causing interference.

Dancing Brave, Rail Link and dual winner Enable also secured a spot on the honour roll for Juddmonte, but it is the 2010 victory of the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Workforce that provides a pointer to Westover’s Arc preparation.

Derby winner Workforce was a well-beaten 8-11 favourite when fifth of six in the King George in 2010 but returned with a career-best effort on Racing Post Ratings to land the Arc 71 days later. Westover bids to follow in his footsteps after filling the same spot in the midsummer highlight at Ascot.

Connections decided to sidestep this month’s St Leger with the Ralph Beckett-trained colt in favour of him heading fresh to France and the signs at home suggest they could have made the right call.

Juddmonte racing manager Barry Mahon said: “Westover is training well and Ralph feels he’s in a good place. He worked nicely on Saturday and he’s on course for Longchamp with a few more bits of work to do.

“We’ve no doubt he’s better than he showed at Ascot and we’re hopeful he’ll run a very good race. The Arc was very much the aim after his Irish Derby win and we went to Ascot and things didn’t pan out for us there.

“Giving him a big, long break, as we did with Workforce, was felt to be the best way of getting him to Longchamp.”

Workforce, with late owner Khalid Abdullah (right), after winning the Arc in 2010Credit: Mark Cranham

The big race changed complexion last week when Baaeed was pointed towards Ascot’s Qipco British Champions Day, with Westover a best-priced 20-1 with William Hill on Wednesday morning.

Mahon said: “Baaeed’s omission gives the race a little bit more of an open feel but there are still plenty of top-class horses in there. The ground and weather could have a big say yet, and throw a spanner in the works for plenty.

“They don’t get any harder to win than the Arc and we’re under no illusions about the task. We’re hopeful he’ll run a big one though and leave his Ascot run well behind him. We’ll see a better horse on Arc day.”

Rob Hornby rode Westover, 20-1 with William Hill for the Arc, when third in the Derby before Colin Keane took over in the saddle for his Irish Derby win and King George blowout. Connections have yet to finalise riding plans for the Arc.

Watch: Colin Keane's Irish Derby success on Westover

“We haven’t had any discussions about who will ride him recently and we’ll have to raise the subject next week and see what the owners would like to do,” said Mahon. “Our policy is to go for the best available so it will be a case of who is available and who would be best suited on the day.”

Westover will be Juddmonte’s sole Arc runner after the Andre Fabre-trained Baratti sustained a career-ending injury in the lead-up to the race, having finished second to fellow Arc hope Alpinista in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in July. He had been a 25-1 shot for the Arc but has been retired.

Mahon said: “It’s a big loss as Andre was looking forward to running him and had mapped out a route to the Arc from very early on. He was working his way towards it nicely but sadly suffered a career-ending injury.

“He ran some race behind Alpinista. He looked heavy that day and would have come on for it, so he was going to be exciting and it’s a shame.”

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