Duke likely to start in Arc

An absolute downpour in Paris aside, Duke Of Marmalade seems likely to take his chance in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sunday.

Aidan O'Brien has voiced his concerns this week about the Longchamp turf turning very soft, but he said last night it remained the intention to run the five-times Group One winner together with stablemate Soldier Of Fortune.

Johnny Murtagh has been booked for Duke Of Marmalade, with Seamie Heffernan on Soldier Of Fortune.

O'Brien told At The Races: 'We are hoping the ground will be OK. The forecast looks for some showers but that would not be too bad so we are hoping we do not have to make any decision.

'He'll be fine on good ground or the slow side of good, something like that, but we are hoping it is not extreme.

'He is a very good horse, very tough and very consistent in all his races. The lads do a great job with him. He's just a very, very good horse really.

'Soldier was a very good horse last year, he was very impressive in the Irish Derby and won his Arc trial. We felt that just maybe the Arc came a little bit quick after his trial as he tries very hard in his races.

'The plan was always to start early, give him a summer break and come back for autumn campaign.

'It is very hard (to split them). We think they are two top horses and we have been happy with both since their last runs. Duke's wins have mostly have been on fast ground, while Soldier is a very good moving horse so handles ease in ground.

'If we get a nice surface, or the slow side of good, I don't think it will be a problem.

'Johnny has ridden Duke in his five Group Ones this year and has never been beaten on him. It was not too difficult a decision if the ground was right for him.

'He can't ride both of them and at declaration time it looked like the ground would be good, and it still could be.

'It might go on the slow side but I don't think that would be too much of a problem.'