Dalakhani set for Arc glory

Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe favourite Dalakhani was the star turn on the Chantilly gallops on Tuesday morning as the Aga Khan’s colt had his final serious piece of work ahead of Sunday’s Longchamp showpiece.

Ridden by big-race jockey Christophe Soumillon, the French Derby winner was joined by three work companions over seven furlongs of the Les Reservoirs straight gallop.

After watching Dalakhani pull clear trainer Alain de Royer Dupre reported: “He did everything demanded of him – it was similar to the one he had before the Jockey-Club. Nothing’s amiss and I’m satisfied.”

Dalakhani won the Prix Niel over the Arc’s course and distance last time and his trainer felt that there was still some improvement to come.

De Royer Dupre added: “He went well. He’s improved a lot since his last run and one could say that he seems to have got stronger since that race.”

The going at Longchamp has dried out a point in the past 24 hours to 3.3 on the penetrometer, officially good to soft, and that trend should continue with Paris set for a dry week.

De Royer Dupre said: “The ground on the Reservoirs gallop was fast enough this morning, and it looks like it’ll be pretty quick for the race, although they are forecasting cloud cover for Sunday.”