Can she do it?

Enable, the six-year-old, already one of the greatest superstars the turf has ever seen will try to win her third Arc, a feat never achieved before.

Well it’s become that bit easier, given no choice, the Ballydoyle horses are out after urine samples sent to France turned up positive, also out are the runners from Joseph and Donnacha’s yard in the other G1’s, victims of the food containment fiasco that occurred on Friday.

Her trainer, John Gosden when interviewed by Nick Luck on Racing TV today said he hoped for a few showers, to loosen up the ground, rather than have it go, that awful sticky, holding ground. It’s down to handles it, he said, this specialist ground, if someone handles it and they think it feels like fast ground, they win it.

His comments no doubt influenced by the memory of last year when the ground, this ground, left her with no answer to Waldgeist’s kick to the line.

He also runs Stradivarius, his star stayer, beaten by Anthony Van Dyck in the Prix Foy on sleek quick ground, “if he does handle the ground, he definitely has the stamina to deal with it”.

Japan will hope, the nation that is, Deirdre, an Irish name, pulled back muscles in trying to defend her Nassau Stakes victory of the previous year and is reported in good health going into this.

The French will hope to keep it at home.

In Swoop won the German Derby and the form took a nice boost today when the second in that race, Torquator Tasso, won a G1 in Germany today.

Persian King after blitzing Pinatubo in the Moulin was described by Andre Fabre as one on the best milers around, equal to Place Pier in his eyes, yet he’s here, running over a mile and a half, there’s a statement.

Jean Claude Rouget’s Scottass, last year’s French Derby winner, getting the better of Persian King, was third in this last year. He disappointed last time out in the Irish Champions Stakes though he did win the Ganay earlier in the season beating Way To Paris with the latter going on to win the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud.

Jean Claude has also runs Raabihah, he’s made no secret of his affection for her, she’s a lot to do, 3l off Tarnawa in the Vermeille, she bypasses a rematch in the Opera in favour of a tilt at the big one.

“If it feels like fast ground, they win it”.

Enable’s chances improved with the withdrawal of Love on Thursday, it improved again last night with the loss of the other Ballydoyle horses, a lot has fallen in her favour. Will she find in this holding ground? Age and weight are there to undo her, she’ll rely on her class, it should be enough.

Recommendation: Enable 11/10