I WILL be among the tens of thousands travelling to Paris for Arc weekend. As I ended up sleeping on a park bench in the Bois de Boulogne last time I attended, 31 years ago, I am not quite sure what to expect. Hopefully a bit of rain for the horses, as the plan is to have a roof over my head this time.

The Battaash we see from time to time, including when running away with the Prix de l’Abbaye 12 months ago, can run times as good as 136 and is well-nigh unbeatable on his day. He was nowhere near that at York and may face such as Tantheeem (123 + fillies allowance, City Light (122) Alpha Delphini (122), and the lightly-weighted two-year-old Soldier’s Call (116).