The big race in Paris this weekend, the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, is almost certain to be run on much faster ground than usual, possibly the equivalent of ‘good to firm’ in Britain.

That will be music to the ears of connections of the two horses at the top of the market: the French-trained Daryz and the Newmarket-trained Maltese Cross.

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The former won this race last year on soft ground, when put up in this column at 14-1, but his talented trainer Francis-Henri Graffard is convinced his charge is better on quicker ground. 

Drawn in stall five in a race in which low numbers are favoured, the four-year-old colt will be hard to beat on Sunday (3:05 p.m. UK time) but at odds of 7-4 or less he is not for me.

I had intended to put up Maltese Cross for the Arc provided he got a single-figure draw in this 16-runner field but stall 11 makes it difficult for his jockey, Tom Marquand.

Maltese Cross has only been beaten once in five starts this season and that was when, on unsuitably soft ground at Epsom, he finished second to Christmas Day in the Betfred Derby. I would love to see him win for trainer William Haggas, but 5-1 each-way, given his poor draw, looks no value.

Instead, I am going to back another British-trained horse, KALPANA from Andrew Balding’s Hampshire yard. This four-year filly was a disappointing seventh of 17........

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