Eighteen Remain for Arc as Treve Eases to Even Money

Eagle Top (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) will defend the honour of British older horses when he lines up for the G1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp Sunday, as red-hot favourite Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) was eased to odds against with a number of firms Thursday.

The John Gosden-trained 4-year-old earned his place with a terrific effort in the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot in July when losing out by a nose to Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), although he has since been beaten by The Corsican (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G3 Newbury Arc Trial on very testing ground Sept. 19.

With Postponed taken out of Europe’s premier middle-distance event after changing stables, Eagle Top has been left to represent the older brigade in the raiding party, which includes superstar stablemate Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}).

Hugo Lascelles, racing manager to owner Lady Bamford, said, “Eagle Top is fine. He’s taking his chance on the back of a good run in the King George.”

Golden Horn is the only other British challenger after Gosden withdrew Irish Derby winner Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling) at the latest acceptance stage.

As expected, Golden Horn was supplemented by owner Anthony Oppenheimer at a cost of €120,000, on the back of a season that has included victories in the G1 Investec Derby, G1 Coral-Eclipse S. and G1 QIPCO Irish Champion S. already this season.

“Momentum” has been the buzzword in recent days in relation to Golden Horn’s chance and Paddy Power and Ladbrokes were among those to push Treve out to 11-10–with the expectation she could get bigger in the market still, with the ground drying in Paris.

Also supplemented were Shahah (GB) (Motivator {GB}) as a pacemaker for the hat-trick-seeking Treve, and Spiritjim (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}).

That means a field of 18 is likely, with the only other defector being Freddy Head’s Migwar (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}).

The three Irish contenders are the fillies Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Tapestry (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) from Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle yard and Dermot Weld’s Free Eagle (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}).

Heading the home team, along with Treve, are Andre Fabre’s French Derby winner New Bay (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and stablemate Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}).

Dolniya (Fr) (Azamour {Ire}), Erupt (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Prince Gibraltar (Fr) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) are the others in the mix.