Five to fear – or does mighty mare Enable have them all covered in the Arc?

Enable is all the rage to make history with a third victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – but she is unlikely to have things all her own way in Paris this weekend. Here, we assess the chances of five big dangers:

Aidan O’Brien already has a couple of Arc victories on his CV, and Japan has emerged as the chief Ballydoyle contender after blossoming in the second half of the campaign.

The son of Galileo is unbeaten in three starts since going close in the Derby at Epsom in June – adding to successes at Royal Ascot and in France with a thrilling victory over proven top-notcher Crystal Ocean in the Juddmonte International.

A return to a mile and a half will not pose any problems – and getting weight from Enable, he appears a solid each-way alternative to the brilliant mare.

Jean-Claude Rouget is still searching for his first triumph in France’s biggest race, but in Sottsass he has a serious contender.

The chestnut colt is three from three at a mile and a quarter and beyond. The hat-trick includes a Classic success in the Prix du Jockey Club – beating Persian King, who arguably did not stay – and a victory over the Arc course and distance in the Prix Niel.

He did well to get both himself and his jockey out of trouble on the latter occasion, after being caught in a pocket early in the straight. Sottsass is certainly a talented three-year-old on an upward curve, but what his overall form is worth is open to question.

_Waldgeist _

Andre Fabre has saddled a record seven previous winners of the Arc – but has not managed to add to his tally since Rail Link’s triumph 13 years ago. Waldgeist has already had one crack at Europe’s premier middle-distance contest, finishing just under two lengths behind Enable when fourth 12 months ago.

Just like last season, the five-year-old lines up on the back of a comprehensive win in the Prix Foy, and Fabre believes his charge is in the form of his life. He will need to be, however, because Enable has beaten him on each of the three occasions they have met, most recently when Waldgeist was third in the King George at Ascot in July.

Charlie Appleby’s charge ran only once last season, but there were no signs of ring-rustiness when he made a flying start to the current campaign at ParisLongchamp in the spring.

He was a beaten odds-on favourite behind Waldgeist in the Prix Ganay, but returned from another four months off the track with a spectacular 12-length victory in Germany on his latest appearance – his first try at a mile and a half.

This is by far and away his toughest test to date, but equally there is little doubt he is a horse with immense talent – and it would be folly to leave him out of calculations.

From her last nine starts, Magical has won five times, including a trio of Group One victories. However, it is clearly pertinent that four of her five defeats during the same period have come in races won by Enable.

Aidan O’Brien’s filly was down the field in last year’s Arc, although she subsequently pushed Enable all the way at the Breeders’ Cup.

She gave the superstar mare another thorough examination in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown three months ago, but that was Enable’s seasonal reappearance – and she put Magical in her place when they last met in the Yorkshire Oaks.

Few would have begrudged Magical her latest top-level win in the Irish Champion Stakes, but it is pretty clear at this stage that an on-song Enable has her measure.