CRACK OUT OF ARC

CRACKSMAN will have his career swansong in the QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 20 after being ruled out of Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe yesterday.

John Gosden stressed that rain in Paris was needed for the four-year-old to take on his stablemate Enable at Longchamp.

And Cracksman’s owner Anthony Oppenheimer said yesterday: “As we have got nearer the weekend, the forecast rain has got less and less.

“It is very sad, as we wanted to run, but we have got to give him the opportunity to show himself at his best.

“We’ll go to Ascot now, which we’re delighted to do. He’s won the race before and that will be his last race.”

Cracksman (above), who will face another stable-companion Roaring Lion in the Champion Stakes, is a best-priced 5-2 chance to repeat his victory of 2017.