Racing: Danish raider's day in the sun

As tends to be the norm when Brits gather abroad, the talking point here yesterday was the weather. Or rather, the effect it has had on the track for this afternoon's showpiece, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The autumn-hued marroniers in the Bois de Boulogne, with their spiky fruits splitting fatly underfoot, the waters of the river Seine looping lazily round the racecourse and the Tour Eiffel juxtaposing a dramatic backdrop, all shimmered and glittered in the unseasonal sunshine.

The setting for Europe's greatest showdown is nigh on perfect and, according to the jockeys, so are the underfoot conditions. "The going is good," said Frankie Dettori, who will partner Marienbard in the big one. "There is no firmness in it, and no softness. They are making a print but no more. It will be a fresh strip for the Arc and there will be no excuses because of the ground. It will suit any horse."

Islington's liking for faster conditions is well documented. With no rain forecast in Paris, the filly ended the day as 7-1 third favourite with Ladbrokes, behind Sulamani and High Chaparral, inseparable at 2-1.

The first day of Arc weekend has been emasculated by the decision to pack all six Group One races into today's card, leaving thinnish fare yesterday which attracted a sparse attendance. But there can be no denying the cosmopolitan nature of the fixture. Six nations challenge for today's centrepiece and yesterday's opener, the Prix Dollar, was fought out between horses from Denmark, Britain and Japan.

Dano-Mast, a six-year-old trained by Fleming Poulsen, is never likely to rank alongside Thomas Bjorn and Peter Schmeichel as a great Danish sporting hero, but he is the only horse from his country ever to win at this sort of level, taking the Group Two, 10-furlong contest fair and square. The John Gosden-trained runner-up Binary File, two and a half lengths behind, did not have the best luck in running as the favourite, Wellbeing, dropped back, but no real excuses were offered. "Maybe he would have been closer if he could have got going when he wanted," said Gosden, "but the main thing is he's going to be a nice horse for next year."

Binary File's stablemates Disco Volante, in a Listed contest, and Windermere, in the staying feature, the Prix Hubert de Chaudenay, also picked up second spots – Disco Volante's was shared – on a low-key afternoon generally for British contenders.

Shadow Dancing, the Marcus Tregoning-trained Oaks third, and Godolphin's Spring Oak were fourth and last behind the impressive Dance Routine in the Prix Royallieu. The André Fabre-trained daughter of Sadler's Wells was a late defector from the Arc and has put herself in line for a possible tilt at the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

One definite Chicago contender to emerge was Domedriver, who swept confidently from last to first in the Prix du Rond-Point. His next assignment, rather more difficult than beating his compatriot Suggestive and Gateman, who was sent over by Mark Johnston, a couple of cosy heads, will be to take on Rock Of Gibraltar in the Breeders' Cup Mile. The consistent four-year-old has some good form to his name – notably his second to Banks Hill in the Prix Jacques le Marois in August – and is as low as 9-1 with Hills for the Arlington contest.

His trainer, Pascal Bary, issued an upbeat bulletin about stablemate Sulamani but at this stage anything else would be a shock. "He is in excellent form," said the Chantilly handler, "it is me who is suffering from nerves."

At Newmarket, 9-1 chance Beauchamp Pilot gained a smooth victory in the Cambridgeshire. Jockey Eddie Ahern kept Gerard Butler's four-year-old handy throughout on the far side, where most of the 30 runners raced, and hit the front over a furlong out to score by a length and a half from Goblet Of Fire. Zonergem, who was sent off 4-1 favourite, failed to figure. "He was beaten after a furlong," said Darryll Holland, his rider.