Torquator Tasso nearing return and heads 86 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe entries

Torquator Tasso, Hurricane Lane and Adayar – first, third and fourth at Longchamp last October – head 86 entries for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe announced on Wednesday.

Hurricane Lane and Adayar are among six entries for trainer Charlie Appleby, who has yet to add the Arc to his burgeoning list of big-race successes.

Also among Appleby's squad under early consideration for the €5 million highlight of the European turf season are four three-year-old colts: Nahanni and Nations Pride, who both won early Epsom trials, as well as Walk Of Stars and New London, who came off second best to Aidan O'Brien colts at Lingfield and Chester last week.

Torquator Tasso is nearing his seasonal reappearance, with trainer Marcel Weiss eyeing the Group 2 Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft over a mile and three furlongs on May 29 for the five-year-old son of Adlerflug.

"His preparation has gone well and he has strengthened up a lot again over the winter, he looks great," Weiss said. "His work has been very good and I expect him to come forward for racing, just as he did last season. He'll start off at Baden Baden and then go to Hamburg again the weekend of the German Derby."

Marcel Weiss with his Arc hero Torquator Tasso at home in MulheimCredit: Racing Post/Scott Burton

Torquator Tasso stunned the racing world when triumphing at 72-1 last October and, while all roads lead back to Longchamp this season, a crack at the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes is also under consideration.

Weiss said: "After that I'll decide with the owner whether we should head to Ascot – he'll certainly get an entry in the King George – or stay at home and run at Hoppegarten in the race in which he was beaten by Alpinista last year.

"Torquator Tasso needs a decent pace so we'll have to see who looks like turning up at Ascot, as well as assessing his own form nearer the time."

2022 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe entries and betting

In recent years Godolphin have been unafraid to make fewer initial entries and rely on paying the €120,000 supplementary fee in the week of the race and that strategy is now being fully adopted by Aidan O'Brien, who has made just four initial entries and who added Oaks winner Snowfall late in the day before the 2021 Arc.

The six-year-old Broome once again features alongside just three representatives from the Classic generation in Stone Age, Point Lonsdale and the sidelined Luxembourg, with Oaks second-favourite Tuesday a notable omission.

Stone Age carries the colours of Peter Brant, who realised a lifetime ambition when the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Sottsass triumphed in the 2020 Arc, and whose talented three-year-old entries include Epic Poet and Yukata for the same trainer, as well as the Wood Ditton winner Francesco Clemente for John and Thady Gosden.

Stone Age: one of only four initial entries made by Aidan O'Brien for this year's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de TriompheCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

O'Brien's sons also have plenty of chances of saddling a first runner in the race. Joseph has entered recent Prix Ganay winner State Of Rest as well as Classic hopefuls Buckaroo, Above The Curve and Tranquil Lady; while Donnacha relies on the Ballysax winner Piz Badile, a 7-1 chance for the Derby.

Japanese appetite for Longchamp glory remains undimmed, with seven entries headlined arguably by Dubai Sheema Classic winner Shahryar, a leading contender for next month's Prince of Wales's Stakes who trainer Hideaki Fujiwara has committed to an international campaign. Panthalassa, who dead-heated with Lord North in the Dubai Turf, is one of three entries for Yoshito Yahagi.

HBA Media strikes French rights deal

France Galop has appointed HBA Media as its dedicated partner for the distribution of global rights to French Flat racing in a four-year deal.

The deal will cover 26 days of Group 1 and Group 2 action through the French calendar and means the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe joins HBA's portfolio of distribution deals for top international racing events, which include the Dubai World Cup Carnival, the Melbourne Cup, the Breeders’ Cup, as well as the Cazoo Derby festival, Royal Ascot and Qipco Champions Day.

William Hill: 8 Hurricane Lane, 12 Luxembourg, 14 Stone Age, 16 Shahryar, 20 Adayar, Coroebus, Titleholder, Torquator Tasso, 25 bar

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