Perhaps the greatest racing weekend of the year, in terms of sheer calibre of the runners involved, is the Arc meeting at Longchamp, Paris, in early October.

This year, France Galop has lined up a fantastic menu for the two-day extravaganza, sponsored by the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club in the Arabian Gulf. Saturday's card (October 2) features four Group 2s, a pair of handicaps, a claiming event and a race for Arab horses. Sunday (October 3) will be a busy day, with the 9-race programme consisting of a handicap, a championship event for Arab horses and no less than seven Group 1 contests, the highest number ever carded on a single afternoon in Europe! The piece de resistance of course is the €4,000,000 Gr.1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2400 m.).

Unfortunately, Mother Nature appears to have frowned on this year's proceedings. Significant quantities of rain have already fallen in Paris and more precipitation appears imminent. As a result, the ground could worsen to tres souple (very heavy) from its current state of soft to very soft. It's well known that horses cope differently with testing conditions and so upsets over the two days are almost certain.

For many years, there were as many runners in the Arc as could be safely accommodated – the peak being 30 in 1967, when the long-forgotten Topyo (by Fine Top) prevailed. However, now that the race is part of the "Tierce, Quarte, Quinte" group of wagers, only 20 will be allowed to start. At the time of writing, there are 22 declared, so two will have to face the axe.

It seems that trainer Aidan O'Brien's lowly-ranked pair of Bright Horizon and Dixie Music are the ones which will have to be withdrawn – unless a couple of the other candidates drop out. That won't unduly disturb the master of Ballydoyle, as he has Fame And Glory, Cape Blanco and Midas Touch to represent him, who collectively make up the Irish contingent. Incidentally, only half a dozen trained in the Emerald Isle have won the Arc – Ballymoss, Levmoss, Alleged (twice), Sinndar, Dylan Thomas and Sea The Stars (last year).

Those still in the mix include a pair of supplementary entries whose connections have stumped up €100,000 apiece by way of late entry fee – classic winner Lope de Vega (by Shamardal), from the Andre Fabre stable, and Grand Prix de Deauville winner Marinous (by Numerous), schooled by Freddie Head. This French pair will be joined by six other Gallic contenders, making for an 8-strong home defence. The British-based contingent consists of Cavalryman, Duncan, Workforce and Youmzain. Germany contributes a couple as does Japan, while a rare invader from the Czech Republic rounds off the field.

It's an interesting aside that only two horses with more than two words in its name has won the Arc in its 88 runnings – Eclair Au Chocolat in 1938 and Sea The Stars last year. Strictly speaking that has nothing to do with the chances of Fame And Glory (by Montjeu)! On good ground he would perhaps have been the favourite, with Johnny Murtagh – previously successful on Sinndar – to guide him. He is the only runner with three efforts rated in the 120s in its last five starts and has the experience of having tackled the race last year, when he ran too freely. Trainer O'Brien sent out Dylan Thomas to victory in 2007.

A worthy public choice is the Aga Khan's Behkabad (by Cape Cross), handled by Jean Claude-Rouget and to be ridden by Christophe-Patrice Lemaire, a jockey who impressed in his short stint in India during which he rode The Pelican to success in the Indian Turf Invitation Cup. The 3-y-o, whose overall record is 6 wins from 8 starts, is unbeaten from 3 appearances at Longchamp, including one in the Gr.2 Prix Niel over course and distance recently and has experience of the expected conditions. Moreover, 4 of the last 10 Arc winners have come off a victory in that very prep race. Incidentally, Lemaire has chosen the colt over the Aga Khan's other entry, the filly Sarafina (by Refuse To Bend), who will now have the services of Gerald Mosse.

Should Gr.1 Investec Derby hero Workforce (by King's Best) reproduce his Epsom running, he will be hard to beat. This enigmatic Juddmonte homebred is expected to appreciate the cut in the ground and his usual pilot Ryan Moore is aiming for his maiden win in this race, as is trainer Sir Michael Stoute. Rainbow Quest, Dancing Brave and Rail Link are previous winners sporting Prince Khalid Abdullah's silks that have graced the winner's enclosure.

If the ground does not inconvenience him, Cape Blanco (by Galileo) has as good a chance as any. The Gr.1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby winner was particularly impressive when trouncing Rip Van Winkle (also by Galileo) last time out. Earlier he had finished well clear of Youmzain and Workforce although far behind Harbinger. Aidan O'Brien has teamed up with Belgian rider Christophe Soumillon, overlooking Seamus Heffernan and Colm O'Donoghue, who were aboard in his last two appearances.

Youmzain (by Sinndar) does not win too many races these days but has finished second in the Arc for each of the last three years, so can hardly be written off! Mick Channon's consistent seven-year-old has the right man for the big occasion in the saddle, in the shape of Richard Hughes. Owner Jaber Abdullah's racing manager, Bruce Raymond, commented: "He likes to travel on the bridle and Richard will keep a tight hold of him, because he's a horse who likes to go to sleep and he can't do that. Richard's style of riding suits the horse."

Never underestimate a man who has seven Arc wins to his credit! Andre Fabre would not have bothered to persuade the owners of Lope De Vega, Gestut Ammerland, to cough up the late fee if he did not feel that the winner of the Poule d'Essai des Poulains-French 2000 Guineas and Prix du Jockey Club-French Derby had a chance. Racing manager Crispin de Moubray said: "I've always said this horse was brilliant, but he's taken a rather unusual route to get here. I don't see any reason why the horse shouldn't stay, especially if there's a fast pace which should help him settle early." On the other hand, Fabre was more circumspect: "He's very well in himself, which is why we're taking our chance, but, of course, there is a big question mark about the distance. I'm more hopeful than confident he will stay, but I'll leave talk about that to the experts."

Finally, Planteur (by Danehill Dancer), who has hardly anything to find on the form book, is training superbly for trainer Elie Lellouche, who said: "I worked him with two lead horses over nine furlongs and was pleased by the way he went. I feel the colt is at the top of his game and couldn't be better pleased with his preparation. If there is cut on Arc day it certainly won't be against his chance." Anthony Crastus has ridden him throughout. Famous commentator, now retired, Sir Peter O'Sullevan, provides the ultimate footnote: "It will be my 65th Arc and I'll be driving there again."

USA |
The bombshell news of the week was the announcement on September 28th that Rachel Alexandra (by Medaglia d'Oro), one of the superstars of the past decade or two, had been retired. What made the news incomprehensible was the fact that the four-year-old filly had worked brilliantly just the previous day while apparently preparing for this Saturday's Gr.1 Beldame Stakes at New York's Belmont Park en route to the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic in November.

For reasons that are not at all clear, Jackson announced: "I believe it's time to retire our champion and reward her with a less stressful life. We are delighted that she will retire healthy and happy to our beautiful farm in Kentucky."

Rachel Alexandra leaves the track with a lifetime record of earning $3,506,730 from 13 wins and a further 5 second-placed efforts. She raced a total of 19 times at 8 different racetracks. It is a great pity that she never got a chance to clash swords with the undefeated Zenyatta (by Street Cry), who is also scheduled to reappear on Saturday, but in California.

Her current trainer, Steve Asmussen, paid tribute to the filly he took over from Hal Wiggins last year. "I have been blessed to have been part of history," he said. "We are all very fortunate that Rachel carried the banner following Curlin's amazing success story. The fans adored her - we all did. She had the most fluid and beautiful stride of any horse I have ever seen. It's been quite a ride."