News of the Arc draw, the French Derby winner and a Tom Thumb with a king's name

Nineteen starters prime themselves for the world’s greatest race

A field of 19 will come under orders in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr1) after John Gosden decided today {Thursday) to withdraw Cracksman (Frankel) – reasoning that the ground is unlikely to be soft enough for the colt. The Anthony Oppenheimer-owned runner is now expected to be aimed at the QIPCO Champion Stakes (Gr1), a race which he won last year. Enable (Nathaniel), the defending champion, has been well served by the draw, having inherited the six gate. The two Godolphin gladiators, Talismanic (Medaglia d’Oro) and Cloth of Stars (Sea the Stars), seem almost inseparable as they are drawn next to each other in stalls eight and nine. Waldgeist (Galileo), the number one French contender, has been drawn 13. However, the QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1) winner, Study of Man (Deep Impact), had no luck as he has been drawn widest of all in 19. Patascoy (Wootton Bassett), the Jockey-Club second, has fared much better in this department as he will exit from stall two. Sea of Class (Sea the Stars), the second favourite and supplemented for the big race by her team on Wednesday, has drawn 15.

Study of Man: Out to become a study in concentration with the aid of blinkers

Study of Man, having gone to the top of the French three-year-old class in the wake of

QIPCO Prix du Jockey-Club success, has disappointed twice since Chantilly. Consequently,

Pascal Bary, has taken the important decision to fit the colt with blinkers so as to improve his concentration. The Chantilly trainer said: "Study of Man is very well and has come out of his Irish race [Irish Champion Stakes} in good order. His fifth place is a little disappointing on the face of it but, seen in a wider context, it isn’t that disappointing. In a race in which the pace wasn’t overtaxing, the horse in front of him [the winner: Roaring Lion] quickened very sharply and that put his nose out of joint a little. However, he ran on well and has come out of the race in good order. Study Of Man is going to race in a pair of blinkers in which the view is largely unobstructed – so as to improve his concentration levels. They’re the same as those worn by Dream Well in the Prix du Jockey-Club. They’re very small but should improve his concentration levels. The main aim is that he applies himself well to the task in hand."

Regarding the race itself, the handler added: "His future opponents are very good but he is very well in himself. Some very good horses will be in the field such as Enable, last year’s winner, and Sea of Class who has just been supplemented. I think that the best European performers are all present. We should get a truly run race and, as often happens, the best horse on the day will win. There shouldn’t be any snags. As for the ground and, providing that conditions aren’t too soft, there shouldn’t be a problem."

Louis d’Or: The Tom Thumb figure who finds his feet!

Louis d’Or (Intello), the QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club third, is cast in the role of outsider. The Camille Garnier runner hasn’t replicated his Chantilly form but Tony Castahanheira believes that his colt - something of a Tom Thumb figure in the race – is deserving of an explanation. He said: "We changed his shoes so as to protect his feet. In the final analysis, the new shoes which provided added protection to the sole of the foot, proved to be a negative experience for Louis d’Or. However, the problems with his feet have since been resolved and he goes into the race in good order. Yes, the race is something of a challenge, and his owner is sold on the idea of running him in the Arc. From a sporting angle, it’s great to be able to take up the challenge. There are perhaps easier races to tackle than this one. However, he wasn’t expect to be contender in the Jockey-Club but the colt still ran a blinder. So we’re hoping that he can again rise to the occasion in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Whether he has the required stamina for 2,400m is for me the only question mark ranged against him – together with the fact that he might be a little less good than some of the other horses in the race, but who knows? He might be concerned at the finish if everything works out right for him. "