Sinndar can star in Arc showdown

The late, great Alleged is the ultimate touchstone for this Sunday's epoch-making Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe - bolstered by sponsors Lucien-Barri?re to be by far the richest to date at £1 million, yet bafflingly without British representation for the first time since 1963 and with the smallest line-up for 54 years.

If Montjeu repeats his remarkable triumph of last year, it will be the first back-to-back double in the premier French contest since Lester Piggott's oft under-rated mount clinched a second victory in 1978. But if Sinndar spoils the party, we will witness the first Irish-trained winner since that same Vincent O'Brien-managed success 22 years ago.

The Alleged connection is strong within the Montjeu camp - he's a Coolmore soldier, the powerbase of John Magnier who married O'Brien's daughter, Sue - but it also sets a precedent for Sinndar's profile.

John Oxx's Epsom and Irish Derby winner has enjoyed a season of obscurity relative to his achievements, overshadowed until now by the hype surrounding the abortive match between tomorrow's French rival and the unfortu-nate Dubai Millennium. Alleged received the same treatment in 1977 while his flashier stablemate The Minstrel hogged the headlines.

Recent trends also speak in favour of this year's dual classic hero rather than last year's version. Three-year-olds have dominated this event in the 1990s, serving up all bar two of the winners - year-older Subotica in 1992 and Urban Sea, the last filly to triumph, 12 months later.

During that same period, just two horses have attempted to win successive Arcs. Sixth hath been their lot. 1994 hero Carnegie filled that slot behind Lammtarra the following year, while Helissio was five places adrift of Peintre C?l?bre a year after his victory of 1996.

That said, Montjeu has looked imperious this year. From cheeking classy opposition in Ireland's Tattersalls Gold Cup, to his majestic procession in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and his embarrassment of top-flight rivals in Ascot's King George VI and the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, he's been untouchable.

A slight ankle injury last month was only enough to reroute him from a tough Group One, the Irish Champion Stakes, to a gimme equivalent, the Prix Foy over the Arc course and distance. It proved little more than an exercise gallop, albeit that he looked a little less invincible on ground slightly faster than customary. But he's no betting-man's price, bearing in mind the Longchamp turf will be nothing like the bog of last year when Mick Kinane was arguably lucky to extract Montjeu from a coffin position on the rails to cut down long-time leader El Condor Pasa under a tactically sound ride from Masayoschi Ebina.