Niarchos colt still doubtful

Doubts surround the participation of three contenders in Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barriere at Longchamp for which 21 horses stood their ground at the latest forfeit stage.

The outsiders Moteck and Hamond were the only ones taken out. A decision on whether the 1998 Irish and French Derby winner, Dream Well, runs will be made today.

Alan Cooper, racing manager to the colt's owners the Niarchos family, said: "It is nothing to do with the ground. The horse has an alternative option in America, the Turf Classic, and we need to weigh up all the factors."

A decision on Bienamado's participation in will be taken after trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam has spoken to the colt's owners.

Bienamado, just a head behind Arc favourite Montjeu in the Prix Niel last time, requires good ground to show his best form and with the going currently described as very soft there is a doubt he will be in the line-up. A spokeswoman for ChappleHyam said: "No decision has been taken yet. Mr Chapple-Hyam is keeping an eye on the forecast and is going to talk to the owners before deciding."

Courteous, who missed out when Ascot's Cumberland Lodge Stakes was abandoned last Saturday, is also not certain to go to post. "He's a possible rather than a probable," said his trainer Paul Cole. "If it got extremely heavy then we might run him.

"He is also in at Woodbine (Canadian International) but the firm ground is a problem over there as he needs some cut."

El Condor Pasa, the Japanese challenger, warmed up for the race yesterday, working well and pulling two lengths clear of three galloping companions.

Nobutaka Tada, racing manager to owner Takashi Watanabe, said: "It was a light piece of work. A bit of fine-tuning in other words.

"The horse went through the soft ground well and that element doesn't worry us. We are more concerned that the race may not be run at a decent pace."

The ground continues to soften at Longchamp. It was holding (4.4 on the penetrometer) on Tuesday whereas yesterday's reading was 4.6.

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe: Latest betting (William Hill): 13-8 Montjeu, 7-4 Daylami (from 15-8), 5-1 El Condor Pasa, 12-1 Daryaba, 16-1 Croco Rouge, 16-1 Greek Dance (from 201), 16-1 High-Rise, 16-1 Tiger Hill, 25-1 bar.

As expected, there is a strong Irish team for one of Sunday's supporting races, the Group One Prix de l'Abbaye de Longhcamp , with Black Rock Desert, Carhue Lass, Timote, the mount of Kieren Fallon, and Antinnaz all engaged.

John Gosden's Bertolini and the Luca Cumani-trained Arkadian Hero are among seven British acceptors.