A field of 19 will come under orders in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Enable (Nathaniel), the defending champion, has been well served by the draw, having inherited the six gate. The A. Fabre-trained Talismanic (Medaglia d’Oro) and Cloth of Stars (Sea the Stars), seem almost inseparable as they are drawn 
next to each other in stalls eight and nine. Waldgeist (Galileo), the number one French contender, has been drawn 13. However, the QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1) winner, Study of Man (Deep Impact), had no luck as he has been drawn widest of all in 19. Patascoy (Wootton Bassett), the Jockey-Club second, has fared much better in this department as he will exit from stall two. Sea of Class (Sea the Stars), the second favourite and supplemented for the big race by her team on Wednesday, has drawn 15. Clincher, who has come all way from Japan, hoping to make the long-awaited Japanese come true, will be in 1. He will carry the hopes of Japan this year, and for the 17th time since 1969, to win the greatest race in the world.
John Gosden decided on Thursday to withdraw Cracksman (Frankel) – reasoning that the ground is unlikely to be soft enough for the colt. The Anthony Oppenheimer-owned runner is now expected to be aimed at the QIPCO Champion Stakes (Gr1), a race which he won last year.