Derby winner primed for Arc bid

Vodafone Derby hero Motivator leads a five-strong British challenge in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday.

And Harry Herbert, spokesman for owners the Royal Ascot Racing Club, hopes the Michael Bell-trained colt, who has been drawn in stall eight, can pick up the winning thread.

Since his Epsom romp, Motivator has twice chased home Oratorio over a mile and a quarter, most recently finishing runner-up in the Irish Champion Stakes.

“He is in great form, terrific shape and things could not have gone better with him,” said Herbert.

“He is a very clean-winded horse so we have just kept him ticking over since Leopardstown and it will be nice to get him back over a mile and a half.

“If you look at the Derby you would say that distance would be his optimum, but he has put up two cracking performances over 10 furlongs and all credit to the winner of those races.

“Hopefully he will be able to show his stamina and great speed as we have a very high opinion of him and whoever wins will rightly be the champion middle-distance horse in Europe.”