At Longchamp this Sunday, a trio of established and significant Arc trials will be staged, the Gr.1 Prix Vermeille topping the billing. The Prix Niel and Foy are also of appreciable interest and will be useful markers for the big event on 1^st October.

The Vermeille will see the return of Blue Rose Cen following her Goodwood disappointment. Christopher Head’s dual-classic winner has never raced beyond 2100m, and all eyes will be on her performance.

Warm Heart is a contender, given the nature of her Yorkshire Oaks success. 2022 Prix Saint-Alary winner, Above The Curve, will also start, as will the Wertheimer brothers’ Pensée Du Jour. Worth a mention is Rue Boissonade whose progression this year recently culminated in a facile Gr.2 Prix de Malleret victory.

Feed The Flame makes his first appearance since landing the Grand Prix de Paris mid-July and Pascal Bary, who has never won the Arc, has set his sights on the big prize. Main opposition should logically take the form of German Derby winner, Fantastic Moon, who appreciates the good ground, and Goldenas, who won the Italian equivalent on heavy going. French Guineas winner, Marhaba Ya Sanafi, has had time to recover from his lacklustre Jacques le Marois performance.

A small field of older horses takes in the Prix Foy, and most of the attention will be focused on last year’s winner, Iresine, who has not been seen out since comfortably securing the Prix Ganay in late April. Trainer Jean-Pierre Gauvin has reported him in excellent condition. Neither the German, Sammarco, nor Nicolas Clément’s Fenelon, will be an easy touch, but rather intriguing is the presence of Place Du Carrousel who also held a Prix Vermeille entry. André Fabre is never one to be underestimated.