28 September 2023 , 19:00
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Ralph Beckett has dismissed concerns about Westover's draw ahead of the highly-anticipated Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
The top class colt will emerge from box one to pursue the first prize of just over £2.5 million at Longchamp on Sunday.
Since the turn of the century, only the exceptional unbeaten 2008 favourite Zarkava has won from the stall. But Beckett, running his horse in Juddmonte colours twice carried to victory by Arc legend Enable in 2017 and 2018, believes he can defy the statistics.
"I'm pleased with box one, I think it's a good draw for Westover," he said.
"He leaves for France on Friday morning. I'm very happy with him."
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Sixth in the mud 12 months ago, Westover is on-course to encounter quicker terrain, the consequence of a dry week in Paris. Beckett reports the 6-1 shot to have thrived since his narrow defeat to Hukum in an all-star renewal of the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes.
Enable and fellow Juddmonte titan Workforce raced on from Ascot's midsummer event to be lucky in this weekend's premier middle-distance contest.
"The King George was a tough race but it was two months ago," added Beckett. "Westover had a racecourse gallop at Salisbury and an away day to the beach. He's in a really good place at the moment."
Hukum will start the 1m 4f showpiece from the 14-numbered berth, another not favoured in Arc history. Runners drawn between two and seven inclusive have taken over half of the editions since 1988.
Hukum (right) came home just in front of Westover when the pair met in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes (Getty)But his jockey Jim Crowley said: “I’m on a very uncomplicated horse - rock-solid. You always need a bit of luck round there but you can’t change the draw.
“People say a six-year-old can’t win it, now they’re staying stall 14, but I have the right horse to overcome it.
“It’s just a number, isn’t it? He’s always been a very good horse - he proved that in the King George - and, whatever happens, he’ll leave it all there.”
Paddy Power reacted by pushing the Owen Burrows six-year-old out to 6-1 (from 4-1).
“Hukum is rightly seen as the leading British hope for the Arc - his King George win probably rates the strongest piece of form - but even the world’s biggest optimist couldn’t see draw in stall 14 as a boost to his chance,” said the Dublin firm’s Paul Binfield.