As for the big race, the question after Trials day is still the same – can anything beat Enable?
Forty-nine weeks on from an Arc day that left the organisers falling over themselves to apologise for horrendous queues and shortages of basics like sandwiches and beer, Longchamp was a much more agreeable place on Sunday afternoon as the track staged its annual card of trials for the big race.
The sun was beating down – a peak of 27 degrees, no less – and a decent(ish) crowd was able to move about freely and enjoy some excellent racing, including Frankie Dettori’s 16th Group One win of the season and a masterclass in how not to ride Longchamp by Cristian Demuro, on Sottsass in the Prix Niel.