Frankie goes fourth

In the modern era, only the legendary Yves Saint-Martin, Pat Eddery and Freddie Head have managed four victories in the event first run in 1920. Dettori, with victories on Lammtarra (1995), Sakhee (2001) and Marienbard (2002) is 5-4 to join this select band tomorrow on Peter Chapple-Hyam's colt.

Authorized has only one hiccup in an otherwise perfect 2007 racing record — when beaten by Notnowcato in the Eclipse at Sandown. Dettori blamed himself that day in a messy tactical contest.

Authorized's preparation has gone perfectly since his win over Dylan Thomas in the Juddmonte International at York in August. But the jockey is still nervous, especially as he has been drawn 12, on the outside of the field.

Dettori said: "I'm not confident — I'm hopeful. This is a championship race and we can take nothing for granted. You need luck in running and things can happen in these races."

If Dettori is on the star of the show there are aspects of the Arc this year which would have a scriptwriter salivating.

Kieren Fallon partners Dylan Thomas, a horse he describes as the best he has ridden, 24 hours before he faces the jury at the Old Bailey on charges of defrauding Betfair and totesport customers.

Fallon is coolness personified on the big occasion but even he must feel a sense of unease at the prospect of a final Arc curtain call.

Dylan Thomas and Irish Derby winner Soldier Of Fortune are the leading contenders from the fourstrong challenge of Aidan O'Brien, who has yet to win the race.

Dylan Thomas has a length to make up on Authorized on Juddmonte running but has since won the Irish Champion Stakes from Duke of Marmalade by a length and a half.

Then there is the ongoing spat between Johnny Murtagh, who rides Soldier of Fortune, and Stephane Pasquier, the rider of Zambezi Sun.

The jockeys clashed a week ago in the Fillies' Mile at Ascot when Murtagh (riding eventual winner Listen) impeded Pasquier (on favourite and runner-up Proviso) just after leaving the starting stalls. Afterwards an enraged Pasquier described Murtagh as a 'connard', a word too rich to be translated for this family newspaper.

With Andre Fabre's injured Manduro now retired, the home team can muster only four runners.

So Pasquier, who is on the verge of winning his first French jockeys' championship and who won last season's Arc on Rail Link, has the weight of a nation's expectations on his and Zambezi Sun's shoulders — especially if patriotic pride is dented if the French national rugby team lose to New Zealand in Cardiff tonight.

It looked like Zambezi Sun may have needed the run when two and a quarter lengths third to Soldier of Fortune in the Prix Niel last month.

Of the other British hopes, Mick Channon's Youmzain was well beaten by Dylan Thomas in the King George at Ascot and has since been fourth to Quijano in Germany, while Dragon Dancer was third behind Manduro and Mandesha in a slowly-run Prix Foy three weeks ago.