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No fitness worries ahead of Arc for Christophe Lemaire as twenty remain

YORK, ENGLAND - AUGUST 23: Christophe Lemaire at York racecourse on August 23, 2012 in York, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
Image: Christophe Lemaire: Injury scare

A total of 20 horses have been left in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at the first forfeit stage.

The possibles are headed by ante-post favourite Taghrooda, winner of the Investec Oaks and King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Ectot is also there as is last year's heroine Treve, along with the Japanese trio of Gold Ship, Just A Way and Harp Star.

Aidan O'Brien has left in Chicquita and Ruler Of the World while St Leger victor Kingston Hill is Roger Varian's hope.

Al Kazeem, who was sixth in the 2013 renewal, has been left in by Roger Charlton though he also holds an entry in Saturday's Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot.

Flintshire is Andre Fabre's sole contender, while the list is completed by Ivanhowe, Spiritjim, Siljan's Saga, Montviron, Prince Gibraltar, Free Port Lux, Dolniya and Shamkala.

Ivanhowe's trainer Jean-Pierre Carvalho and owners Gestut Schlenderhan have been considering their jockey options, but they have now swooped for William Buick to ride the German raider.

Christophe Lemaire suffered an injury scare at Maisons-Laffitte on Monday but is not concerned about his fitness ahead of the race.

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The French jockey sustained a slight leg injury in a fall at the Paris track but is not in action again until Friday and is looking forward to the big meeting at Longchamp on Saturday and Sunday.

"I'm fine. I'm just sore in the leg but it's not a problem," he said.

"I have three days off without riding so I will be back on Friday."

Lemaire's book of rides includes Avenir Certain in the Arc itself. He picked up the mount on the dual French Classic winner after her regular pilot Gregory Benoist rejected her in favour of Ectot, who staked his claim with victory in the Prix Niel over the course and distance earlier this month.

Lemaire has yet to win France's biggest race and is hoping he can finally put that record straight.

"I have finished second once in 2006 (on Pride) and this is the race every jockey wants to win. This is the biggest in our country and one of the biggest races in the world," he said.

"I would like to win it, of course, and this is definitely one of my best chances.

"The forecast is good, no rain. I think we will have the perfect ground for everybody and to give all the horses every chance to put up a good performance."

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