Longchamp preview: Genuine good ground at Longchamp tomorrow could see the final piece of the jigsaw fit perfectly into place for a "like father - like son" performance by Hurricane Run in France's greatest race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Comparisons with Montjeu, one of the best racehorses seen in Europe in the last 20 years, would ordinarily set a dizzying benchmark. But as the clock slowly ticks towards 4.30 tomorrow afternoon there is increasing hope that Hurricane Run can meet that mark.
Of course the word ordinary never applied to Montjeu and his presence towers over this Arc almost as much as it did when he won himself in 1999. A remarkable first crop of talent at Coolmore Stud also means he has the English Derby winner Motivator and the St Leger hero Scorpion running for him.
The only competition they have at the top of the betting is from the Irish Oaks winner Shawanda who tries to reverse a desperate streak in the race for fillies and last year's winner Bago who looked to win a less competitive Arc than this one.
It's alarmingly short odds that one of the Montjeu trio comes out on top but the father and son symmetry appears to really apply to Hurricane Run.
Like Montjeu he comes here on the back of an adequate if unspectacular trial win in the Prix Niel; like his Dad he previously visited the Curragh to win the Irish Derby; prior to that he put in a wayward but brilliant display in the French Derby that would surely have yielded a success at the old mile and a half trip; and his potential has been so evident that Michael Tabor has again stepped in for a multi-million euro purchase after the horse's career had begun.
Throw in Michael Kinane on his back and you get the impression that Montjeu could be looking into a mirror whenever his boy eventually retires to Coolmore!
But Hurricane Run and his big race rider Kieren Fallon will have to get the job done tomorrow. The good news for their fans is that another jigsaw piece fit nicely in yesterday with a stall six draw that gives Fallon options either way once the gate opens. A box one draw, right on the fence, allows Christophe Soumillon no such luxury on Shawanda.
All that's missing now for Hurricane Run's ideal conditions is a little ease in the going. However the ground at Longchamp was "good" yesterday and it's important to remember it was fast at the Curragh when Fallon admitted to an uninspired ride.
The jockey knows his horse a lot better now and will be keen to break his Arc duck. Quick conditions will suit Scorpion who tries to provide Aidan O'Brien with a first Arc but no horse has completed the Leger-Arc double in the same year. That proved even beyond Nijinksy and Hurricane Run can deny Scorpion's inclusion among the elite list of Irish Arc winners.
However it could be a massive day for the Irish in some of the other Group One races tomorrow. Alexander Goldrun looks to tick all the right boxes for a repeat performance in the Prix de l'Opera and the Ballydoyle team are attacking France's top juvenile prizes with some intent.
Oratorio won the Prix Jean Luc Lagadere for O'Brien last year and Horatio Nelson can keep his unbeaten record this time round. The son of Imagine has his knockers but the form of his three wins to date keeps getting boosted. David Wachman's Heatseeker is another Irish hope in this.
Rumplestiltskin was ultimately unimpressive when winning the Moyglare but the 1,000 Guineas favourite stumbled at the start and then idled in front. However Fallon retains huge faith in the filly and she will be a major presence in the Marcel Boussac.
Osterhase ran a blinder in the Prix de L'Abbaye last year and will do well to repeat that performance in a race that has a genuine home hope in Chineur.
It's left to John Oxx and Michael Kinane to fly the Irish flag at Longchamp today with pride of place going to Caradak in the Group One Prix de la Foret. Seven furlongs is this likeable colt's optimum trip and he had a a hard race when winning over a mile in August. If he is over that Caradak holds a major chance in this although the faster the ground the better.
If it isn't quick, then Court Masterpiece brings an admirable consistency to the party and is 4lbs better off with Iffraaj on Doncaster running.
Kastoria drops back in trip for the Royallieu and could be caught for pace while Alayan faces a valid challenger in the Prix Dollar in the shape of the Niel runner up Runaway.
ARC SELECTIONS
1-Hurricane Run
2-Scorpion
3-Westerner
