Enable shows class in Arc rehearsal

ENABLE is a hot favourite to defend her Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe crown following a faultless comeback at Kempton on Saturday.

John Gosden’s filly was the star of the 2017 Flat season, winning the English, Irish and Yorkshire Oaks, as well as the King George at Ascot and in Paris.

However, frustratingly for racing fans, she has missed much of the current campaign through injury.

Kempton’s September Stakes was identified as an ideal prep race ahead of her Arc defence, but the presence of this season’s Hardwicke Stakes hero and King George runner-up, Crystal Ocean, added more than a dash of spice to the Group Three contest.

Enable was in receipt of 8lb from her only rival and was an 8-15 favourite in the hands of Frankie Dettori.

Her three-and-a-halflength success means she is now the 7-4 market leader for the first Arc to be run at the new ParisLongchamp.

Gosden (right) also won the other Group Three at Kempton, with 9-1 shot Kessaar proving too good for his rivals under Kieran O’Neill.

The Clarehaven handler had four winners, with First Eleven (5-2 favourite) starring in an Ascot double after landing the £100,000 Lavazza Stakes.

It is a measure of Enable’s status that her long-awaited return overshadowed the Group One 32Red Sprint Cup at Haydock.

Defending champion Harry Angel was smartly away and looked in control at halfway, but faded to finish sixth.

Victory in the six-furlong showpiece went to the James Fanshawe-trained The Tin Man (7-1).

Andrew Balding’s Here Comes When (3-1) won the Unibet Mile.

ParisLongchamp was the focus on Sunday as Recoletos swooped late to land the Group One Prix du Moulin for Olivier Peslier and Carlos Laffon-Parias.

Listowel’s Harvest Festival also kicked off with 1-16 shot Wicklow Brave headlining a four-timer for Paul Townend, while Limato was on the mark in the Ryedale House Garrowby Stakes at York.