This year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gr.1; 2400 m.), down for decision at Longchamp, Paris, this Sunday, October 6th, promises to be one of the highest class renewals in many years. Based on the Timeform ratings of the 19 runners left in at the time of writing, it is felt that the 2013 version of this venerable event "could be a match for any in its 93-year history".

In fact the editors of that esteemed publication feel that the 2013 "Arc" field is on par with that which assembled in 1986, when Dancing Brave defeated fellow Gr.1 winners Bering, Triptych, Shahrastani, Shardari and Darara, who finished in that order.

Going purely on ratings, the top-rated runner is Germany's Novellist (by Monsun), who achieved his 132 mark following his bloodless 5-lengths victory in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot back in July. Andreas Wohler's charge made it 9 wins from 11 starts when annexing the Longines Grosser Preis von Baden 5 weeks ago, despite running below his best. Irish ace Johnny Murtagh, having a great season this year, resumes his association with the 5 to 1 chance, who has been supported in the market in the last day or two.

"The horse is very well," said Wohler. "He did his last piece of work yesterday and I was really happy with it. Everything has gone smooth and fine since his last run so we're looking forward to Sunday - I couldn't be happier with him. He's won races on every ground, but good to soft would be ideal and a one-figure draw would be perfect - nobody wants an outside draw. Johnny did everything right at Ascot and is looking forward to it. We've spoken on the phone and he knows everything about the horse."

Next in the ratings table at 130 is Japan's great hope, Orfevre (by Stay Gold). Apart from having secured the Japanese Triple Crown in 2012, he shone in last year's "Arc" when runner-up, beaten into second in the closing stages when appearing to lose focus and idling. Christophe Soumillon, who seemed surprised by the entire's capitulation when tackled by the wily Olivier Peslier astride Solemia last year, is now more familiar with his mount. The Belgian ace recently rode him to a facile victory in his trial, the Qatar Prix Foy over course and distance 3 weeks earlier. That said, no runner in the Prix Foy has triumphed in the "Arc" since 1992 and as the 5 to 2 favourite, Orfevre (trained by Yasutoshi Ikee) is hardly value for money.

At a mark of 129 is the unbeaten Treve (by Motivator), owned by Qatar's Sheikh Joann bin Hamad al Thani, who will be making only her fifth lifetime start. Impressive winner of the Prix Vermeille over the identical trip under the guidance of Frankie Dettori, she will now have Thierry Jarnet aboard as Dettori is out for the season with an ankle fracture suffered at Nottingham on Wednesday. That will not be a handicap, as Jarnet is vastly experienced, having won the "Arc" twice before (in 1992 and 1994). What's more, he has ridden Criquette Head-Maarek's ward at each of her other three starts, including in the Prix de Diane Longines (French Oaks). Treve, who was not an original entry, is a warm second choice at 9 to 2. She has a stunning turn of foot that can slice through the field but will need luck in running.

Many would say a Japanese victory in this race is overdue. The Land of The Rising Sun's first attempt came through Speed Symboli (by Royal Challenger) in 1969, and the likes of El Condor Pasa (by Kingmambo) in 1999, Nakayama Festa (by Stay Gold) in 2010 and Orfevre last year have all occupied the runner-up spots.  Apart from Orfevre, Japan also fields its 2013 Derby winner, Kizuna (by Deep Impact) who made unusual history recently in the Prix Niel when narrowly beating his fellow Derby winner, Ruler Of The World (by Galileo), hero of the 2013 Investec Derby. Trainer Shozo Sasaki suggested his charge was only at 85% fitness on that afternoon, following an absence of 112 days, and would strip much fitter in the "Arc". Yutaka Take will continue to partner the colt, who has been backed down to eights.

Frankly, it is difficult to take the result at face value as Ruler Of The World had a difficult passage and with a bit of luck could well have won. Incidentally, the time was slower than that clocked by Treve just over an hour later. The Epsom Derby winner is Ireland's leading hope, that country's only other runner being the recent Ladbrokes St. Leger winner, Leading Light (by Montjeu), who has been supplemented into the race at the cost of €100,000. As Aidan O'Brien's jockey son, Joseph, cannot make the 56 kgs. weight assignment on either, Ryan Moore – who won at Epsom on Ruler Of The World – will partner that colt, while French veteran Gerald Mosse has been booked for Leading Light.

With both the Irish challengers being relatively lightly raced – 5 starts for the former and 6 for the latter – some improvement may well be expected. O'Brien, bidding to gain his second "Arc" victory following Dylan Thomas in 2007, was quite optimistic: "Ruler Of The World ran really well in his Arc trial in France on his last run. We have been very happy with him since, he goes there in good form and we hope he runs well. Leading Light has not done a lot since the Leger. We are happy with what he has done." In the ante-post market, the former is at 12 to 1, while the latter is at 16 to 1.

Earlier in the season Roger Charlton's Al Kazeem (by Dubawi) seemed to be invincible. Reeling off a sequence of four wins this term in England, studded by successes in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, Prince Of Wales's Stakes and the Coral Eclipse Stakes – all Group 1 events – he was on course for "Horse Of The Year". A couple of defeats since have taken some of the gloss off, but his consistency means that he is a very live chance. His price of 14 to 1 is attractive for one of his accomplishments and given that he has won or been placed on all 13 of his starts following his unplaced debut, he is a great "each way" play.

Schooler Charlton had the following to offer: "Although Al Kazeem has had some tough races and on ground faster than he would have preferred, from what I can see he still retains his enthusiasm and his speed figures compared well on Saturday morning with his work before both the Prince Of Wales's and the Eclipse. The Arc will be his seventh race of the season but only his fifteenth race spread over four seasons. It is never an exact science to know whether a horse has gone over the top or about to produce another high class performance but the vibes are good…..some ease in the ground and going right handed will help him"

James Doyle, who recently landed the plum job at Juddmonte, retains the mount on Al Kazeem, although it means he rides against his patron.  "I rode at Longchamp a couple of weeks ago for the first time," Doyle said; "I walked the whole of the track and I thought it would be perfect for him. The race looks pretty tough after watching the trials….the competition is pretty strong. I've ridden him once over a mile and a half on soft ground and he was pretty awesome that day."

No discussion on the "Arc" can be complete without mentioning the doyen of French trainers, Andre Fabre, who has no less than five runners engaged. Whether that is a source of strength (sheer weight of numbers) or of weakness (no outstanding runner) remains to be seen. Sometimes it is a question of different owners wanting to take their chances. And in any case one cannot second guess a genius who has sent out seven previous "Arc" winners!

Shortest-priced of Fabre's quintet is the progressive Intello (by Galileo), to be steered by Olivier Peslier, who would edge ahead of Jacques Doyasbere, Freddy Head, Yves Saint-Martin and Pat Eddery as the most successful jockey ever in the "Arc" should he win. At present all five have four wins apiece in this race. Peslier was quite bullish about his mount: "It was holding ground in the Prix du Prince d'Orange but he had plenty left all the same. I think better ground would definitely be an advantage for him. I don't expect the trip to be a problem, he has plenty of racing experience and he's with a very good trainer. He always runs his race, he's very easy to ride and has a lot of speed yet he's won well at 2,100 metres, so I think he goes there with good credentials."

Fabre is a little more cautious about his ward's staying ability. Admittedly there are speedy elements on Intello's dam side, but the three-year-old is by Galileo, a stamina influence, from a family that just oozes class, tracing as he does to legendary broodmare Fall Aspen. What's more, he has been victorious on all 3 occasions he has gone further than the metric mile and his dosage index is a mere 1.26.

Possessed of the potent combination of:

•           most successful trainer

•           (joint) most successful jockey

•           most outstanding sire of the current era

•           arguably the most outstanding female family in modern times

the German-foaled colt shapes as another "each-way" gift to punters at his current price of 10 to 1.

One whose stamina is not in doubt is the lightly-raced Flintshire (by Dansili). The progressive Juddmonte home-bred failed in his trial – the Prix Niel – but was not beaten by much by Kizuna and Ruler Of The World. He had the legitimate excuse of having to race that day on soft ground, which he dislikes. In an exclusive observation for Indiarace, Lord Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for Prince Khalid Abdullah's extensive operation, said: "Flintshire is well and in very good shape. What he needs is a bit of Indian sunshine." The three-year-old is quoted at 14 to 1 and could well emulate the same connections' Rail Link, hero of the 2006 edition, who was also by Dansili and trained by Fabre. Usual rider Maxime Guyon will be at the controls on the winner of 3 of his 5 starts.

Although there are 19 acceptors at the time of writing, this column will discuss only one more contestant, simply because the remainder have no realistic chance, barring unusual circumstances. And that contender is John Gosden's The Fugue (by Dansili), a homebred four-year-old for Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber, the composing genius behind the hit musicals Cats, Evita, Phantom Of The Opera, etc.

She has been withdrawn from the Prix de l'Opera, but whether that means she will take part here or go straight to her ultimate target, the Breeders Cup at Santa Anita next month, is uncertain. Like her close genetic relative, Flintshire, she will need good, if not firm, ground. Coming off a pair of Group 1 wins – in one of which she beat Al Kazeem – she has obvious claims. Probably her 20 to 1 quote factors in the possibility she will not run. If she does, William Buick, her regular partner, will be at the controls.

Finally, a few words on external factors. The "Arc" is not always won by the best horse in the field: for one, its competitive nature and packed field mean that the draw and luck in running play a major role; for another, the time of year often sees rain in quantities sufficient to affect the outcome.

Paris was bathed in sunshine the previous week but is cooling down rapidly as the "Arc" approaches. Sunday is forecast to be around 18 degrees and partly cloudy, with 3 to 5 mm of rain between now and race day. If the showers materialize, they should do no more than freshen things up and no runner ought to be seriously incommoded.