Japanese no-hoper in the Arc

THE Japanese have had several near-misses in the Qatar Prix De L’Arc de Triomphe but that will not be the case at ParisLongchamp on Sunday.

Their only runner is Clincher who has not won a Group One – and nor is he likely to anytime soon judged on his Arc warm-up last month.

Clincher was last of six in the Prix Foy, so it is unrealistic to think he will finish in the first half of the field, let alone second as Japan’s Orfevre did in 2012 and 2013 after winning the Prix Foy both years.

Yutaka Take, who will ride him is looking on the bright side, though.

“I know that the horse is in very good condition and that he has progressed as a result of his last race,” said Take, right.

“We made the running in the Prix Foy because, in Japan, the horse wasn’t used to finding himself in races devoid of pace and which result in sprint finishes.

“I never imagined losing the Foy in such a manner.

“However, in a sense, the result of that race doesn’t count for a lot taking into account he is a horse who tends to thrive after a reappearance run.

“The most important race is the Arc and the horse will be better for the run.

“On Sunday, I would ideally look to have Clincher racing up with the pace. If the race is run at a good gallop, that would be even better as he has plenty of stamina.

“Clincher has never won a Group One contest, but has delivered his best performances when cast in the role of an outsider.”

Coral’s odds: Evens Enable, 3 Sea Of Class, 6 Waldgeist, 12 Kew Gardens, 33 Study Of Man, Talismanic, 40 Capri, Cloth Of Stars, Hunting Horn, Patascoy, Neufbosc, 50 Clincher, Magical, 66 Defoe, 100 Salouen, 125 Nelson, Tiberian, Way To Paris, 150 Louis D’Or.