12:26

On Arc trials day at Longchamp three weeks ago, there was scarcely a cloud in the sky and the mid-afternoon temperature peaked at around 27 degrees. It was seriously, almost unpleasantly, hot. A different experience awaits horses and racegoers in the Bois de Boulogne this afternoon, as the intermittent but heavy showers which hit Paris on Saturday are expected to continue up to and after the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at 3.05pm British Standard Time. The sun, as it happens, is out at the moment but as far as the ground goes, the damage has been done.



The good news for fans of Enable, who will be attempting to record a historic third success in the Arc, is that she has three Group One wins on soft ground to her name, in the Arc (at Chantilly) in 2017, the King George at Ascot the same year and the Breeders’ Cup Turf last November.



When it comes to her main market rivals, the situation is less clear-cut. Japan won his maiden on soft ground in September last year but has done all his racing since on good ground or better. Ghaiyyath has yet to race on anything slower than good, while a Listed win on good-to-soft is all that Sottsass brings to the party. And when it comes to the three Japanese runners – Kiseki, Blast Onepiece and Fierement – they have scarcely a couple of runs on anything other than firm ground to rub together.

Enable just winning the 2019 Prix de l’Arc De Triomphe. Photograph: Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images

So even the weather, it seems, is on Enable’s side, but win or lose for John Gosden’s mare, French racing also is bending over backwards to ensure that travelling fans go home with much happier memories of Longchamp this year than last, when the magnificent new grandstand failed to cope with the experience of meeting its first serious crowd.



A quick stroll around the enclosures just now suggests that, for now at least, the supply of drinks, food and toilet facilities is more than keeping up with demand. If so, all we need now is for the heaviest showers to head elsewhere and Enable to win the Arc for this to be one of the great racing days. The odds on the latter are around 8-11. As for the rain, check in here for updates as the afternoon unfolds.