Fallon fears Ouija Board in Arc showdown
Fallon has ridden both horses this season, winning the Vodafone Derby on North Light, while he has partnered Ouija Board to Classic success in both the English and Irish Oaks.
However, Sir Michael Stoute trains North Light so Fallon sticks with his stable retainer allowing Johnny Murtagh to come in for the ride on the dual Oaks heroine.
“If the filly Ouija Board got a clear passage she’d be there. She’s got a massive turn of foot and she’s done nothing wrong this year,” said the rider.
Ouija Board is a 12-1 shot with William Hill for the race though while North Light is the 9-2 favourite with the same firm.
The son of Danehill beat Rule Of Law a length and a half at Epsom but he has been off the track since finishing runner-up to Grey Swallow in the Irish Derby at the end of June.
Fallon believes the quick ground in Ireland was to blame for North Light’s defeat
“It’s been a long gap since his last run but Sir Michael has proved over the years he can do it with horses with much more time between races and I’m sure he’ll have him spot on for the Arc,” said Fallon.
“He was an impressive Derby winner and if it hadn’t been too firm in Ireland he would have been a dual Derby winner. I’m not knocking the winner, Grey Swallow, but I think I would have won if the ground hadn’t been as fast as it was.”
North Light has been drawn in stall 12 for the race which has attracted a maximum field of 20 runners for the first time since Carnegie won the race in 1994.
“He’s got a good draw in 12 - it’s lovely - right in the middle,” explained Fallon. “I hope to be able to ride a positive race whereas with a massive field it can be difficult for some of the jockeys in behind.
“The Arc can be a rough race. I’ve been in behind before getting knocked about but this is my best ever chance of winning the race.
“He likes to be up with the pace and when you are you can avoid trouble. He’s a galloper and that’s the way he likes to race - he travels well. I like him. It’s a very tough race but with a drop of rain he’ll have a chance.”
Clive Brittain believes Warrsan will have a big chance of claiming his third Group One tomorrow after winning the Coronation Cup in June and the Grosser Preis Von Baden last month.
Warrsan also ran second to Refuse To Bend in the Coral Eclipse and Brittain rates that run particularly highly.
“This has always been a race that he would have a very good chance in. You would have to think we are in with a big shout,” said Brittain.
Kerrin McEvoy took over the ride in Germany last time as regular partner Darryll Holland was engaged somewhere else. McEvoy rode a good race at Baden-Baden and impressed Brittain enough to retain the ride.
“It is good to have Kerrin on the horse again. He gets on so well with the horse, he really seems to understand him and that must be a big plus,” Brittain added.
Warrsan will meet Shirocco again in France after the German Derby winner finished third behind him in Baden-Baden.
However, trainer Andreas Schutz is hoping for rain ahead of the race to ease the ground which is officially described as good.
“The Arc has always been his main objective after the Derby,” said Schutz.
“He ran in Baden-Baden and that was his prep race. The ground wasn’t right for him - he really wants soft ground. Every bit of rain at Longchamp is welcome because his best performances have been on soft ground,” he added.
“We are hoping for a good run.”
Japanese runner Tap Dance City was due to jet into France this afternoon ahead of his audacious tilt at the race.
The seven-year-old’s trainer Shozo Sasaki has endured a worrying week though as Tap Dance City’s travel plans were left in disarray when his flight was cancelled after the plane developed engine trouble in Mexico.
Initially connections decided not to run but changed their minds after the horse’s fans in Japan begged them to find another way to get the horse to Europe.
“I had lost all hopes of getting there because of the aeroplane’s problem, but fortunately we could manage to find an alternative flight,” said Sasaki. “Though our schedule is very tight, I do hope that it could work well.”
Tap Dance City has had the Arc as his target since winning the Grade One Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin in June.
Sasaki has given last year’s Japan Cup winner a break since then and has been preparing him carefully for the French feature but the handler admits the travelling troubles have disrupted his schedule.
“I believe that Tap Dance City can overcome such a difficult situation. The change in his training plans was inevitable but I will do my best to keep him in perfect condition,” he said.
Tap Dance City’s regular rider Tetsuzo Sato will be on board at Longchamp and it will be his first time riding in Europe.
“I think that Tap Dance City can adapt to the track and do his best to win,” Sasaki added.
Grey Swallow has been well supported with William Hill and is now 11-2 from 7-1 for the race.
The same firm have also cut the price of Prix Niel winner Valixir to 8-1 from 10.
