Paris saw an onslaught of wind and rain at the weekend that has left the Longchamp turf in very soft condition ahead of the 2020 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
The going was officially very soft (4.0 on the penetrometer) on Monday morning following 19mm of rain over the last day or so and that will mean that unless there is a lot of heat and sunshine before Sunday, the Arc will be ran in muddy conditions.
This will not suit the favourite Love who seems to favour ground without cut init according to her trainer, where as Enable although not liking it too soft, has won an Arc in similar conditions at Chantilly.
Heartbreak for Enable! The history-seeking mare is collared close home and Waldgeist is the 2019 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner! @paris_longchamp #QPAT pic.twitter.com/JMb3hcD3WB
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 6, 2019
The current forecast for Paris sees more rainfall due on the Friday before the Group One festival, with very little sunshine supposed to come over the track.
Although winning on soft ground, Enable finished second in Very Soft conditions last season, when being outstayed by the Andre Fabre trained Waldgeist, ruining her chance to land her third consecutive Arc and make history in the race.
Of the 22 Arcs run at Longchamp since 1996, eight have been contested on ground described as soft or worse.
During that time frame only four horses have triumphed from a double-figure draw, with three of those – Sakhee in 2001, Dalakhani in 2003 and Treve in 2013 coming on soft ground.