Big guns stand their ground for l'Arc

Dalakhani and High Chaparral head a total of 14 runners declared for Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe-Lucien Barriere at Longchamp.

The two market leaders, trained by Alain de Royer Dupre and Aidan O'Brien respectively, have dominated the betting for the Group One race over a mile and a half in recent weeks.

Dalakhani, winner of the Prix du Jockey-Club, comes into this race on the back of a win in the Group Two Prix Niel.

High Chaparral won the Group One Ireland The Food Island Champion Stakes at Leopardstown last time.

A strong British and Irish contingent heads to the Parisian course headed by Sir Michael Stoute's Vodafone Derby winner Kris Kin who finished third to Dalakhani in the Niel.

First Charter runs as his pacemaker while Marcus Tregoning's Mubtaker makes the step up to Group One company and Tim Easterby sends last year's St Leger winner Bollin Eric.

O'Brien also runs dual Group One winner Black Sam Bellamy and Fontanesi while Dermot Weld sends triple Irish St Leger winner Vinnie Roe.

Andre Fabre's Doyen, second to Dalakhani in the Niel reopposes here while Ange Gabriel, winner of the Prix Foy, represents Eric Libaud.

De Royer Dupre also runs Diyapour who is likely to act as pacemaker for Dalakhani while Elie Lellouche will be represented by Policy Maker.

The field is completed by German runner Dai Jin who has won two Group Ones, including his local Derby, for trainer Andreas Schutz this year.

Interestingly, Dalakhani, the mount of Christophe Soumillon, has been drawn on the wide outside in 14 while High Chaparral, who will be ridden by Michael Kinane, will emerge from stall one.

Frankie Dettori, who has won the race for the last two years on Sakhee and Marienbard, will partner Doyen in this renewal while Kieren Fallon will ride Kris Kin again.

Brett Doyle will ride Kris Kin's pacemaker First Charter while Jamie Spencer and Tom Queally will be on Black Sam Bellamy and Fontanesi respectively.