Cracksman And Crystal Ocean Set To Swerve Arc

With The Arc just round the corner and yesterday produced a big cut in the field with one of the forfeit stages making the field now 22 strong from the previous 95.

Among those missing from the line up was the 20/1 Crystal Ocean trained by Sir Michael Stoute who was announced he will be missing the prestigious race.

The four year old who in his last race came a five length second to the favourite for the big race on Sunday, Enable in the September Stakes was revealed he will not be taking part just hours after the main stayers for the big one at Longchamp were announced.

Crystal Ocean has now only got one other entry left for the season and that is at Ascot on Champions day in the Group 1, 1 mile 2 furlongs Qipco Champion Stakes. Will he finish the season there or was Kempton the last we will see of the Group 2 winner this year?

crystal ocean

Another name that wasn't forfeited from the first stage of entries but has been announced that it will be unlikely he will be racing in Paris on Sunday is the brilliant three time Group 1 winner Cracksman after his owner Anthony Oppenheimer revealed yesterday his prospects of running are slim.

With this the punters backing in the Arc are starting to stay clear of the four year old as he is now drifting out to 14/1 from 7/1 just a few days ago.

The reason for this is all about the ground, the Gosden trained horse loves a bit of cut in the ground and if that is not provided in the coming days he will not be running.

He has now been withdrawn from other Group 1 contests like the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Juddmonte International Stakes this summer due to the ground not being to his liking and this must be frustrating for owner and trainer.

This does take the weight off of Frankie Dettori's shoulders as he now doesn't have to decide who to ride in the race with a special liking for both Cracksman and the favourite Enable.

Cracksman if eventually swerving the Prix de l"arc de Triomphe he also has a final entry of the season in the Qipco Champion Stakes but again we might not see him for the rest of the season as Gosden will only give him the all clear to run if the ground is suitable for him.