Gloomy day in Paris lessens chance of 'good' appearing in the Arc going description

The gradual drying out process at Longchamp came to a temporary halt on Wednesday as Paris was shrouded in low cloud and drizzle, denting hopes that the word good might appear somewhere in the official going description for Sunday's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

After another dry day on Tuesday the ground at Longchamp on Wednesday morning was measured at 3.8 or 'tres souple' on the the official French penetrometer scale, while the GoingStick reading more familiar to British and Irish eyes was good to soft over the majority of the track, with one soft area in the tree-line chute at the top of the seven-furlong course. 

However a grey Wednesday morning and early afternoon meant that, even if the rain didn't amount to much, little or no moisture will have come out of the ground.

The outlook is now for cooler temperatures in the run-up to the weekend with a northerly breeze – a factor which could aid drying – though officials at the track are seeing a 63 per cent chance of scattered showers on Sunday morning, while one forecast is for six millimetres of rain on the morning of Europe's richest race. 

Owners Liberty Racing and trainer Sarah Steinberg will hope the sun does make an appearance to aid the chances of Germany's sole challenger, Fantastic Moon, who could be rerouted to the Breeders' Cup Turf unless the penetrometer reading continues to fall. 

Auguste Rodin's participation also looks in doubt, despite Aidan O'Brien's colt remaining in the field at Wednesday's penultimate declaration stage. This season's Prince of Wales's Stakes winner is available to back at 30 on the Betfair Exchange off the back of comments made by O'Brien during a France Galop media call on Tuesday.

Read these next:

Star filly Bluestocking supplemented for Arc as line-up for Longchamp showpiece begins to take shape 

How favourites have fared in the Arc - a look back at the last ten runnings of the Group 1 contest 

ITV Racing schedule: Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe running order revealed - with Group 1 sprint back on the menu 

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