The Arc is as close as we get to perfection - so please leave it alone

Olivier Delloye comes across as a progressive leader of France Galop, so it is his prerogative to innovate and consider radical ideas. We'd be entitled to grumble if he didn't, but we also reserve the right to call out dud propositions for what they are, and that's exactly what his suggestion to move the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe forward a week is – a bad idea. No more, no less.

Every now and then you see a notion floated that causes a kerfuffle but never really has any chance of getting off the ground. This is one of those moments.

The chances are Delloye was just telling the sides who lost to a shock winner what they wanted to hear, because France Galop would have its work cut out trying to convince the European Pattern Committee of the merits of the move.