2 OCTOBER 1971, Page 19

Juliette's Weekly Frolic

In 1857 a track was laid in the Bois du Boulogne, but it was not until 1920 that the world's richest and most prestigious race was first run to celebrate the ending of the 191418 War. This weekend the Prix de l'Arc de Triomnhe will once again tempt Britons to exchange the gentlemanly comforts of Newmarket Heath for the surging throng jostling for position on Longchamp's stands. It would be not Only uncharacteristic but totally pointless in my present situation to support our heroic Mill Reef, though it is hard to produce convincing reasons for opposing him, Nevertheless, the past two ' Arcs ' have witnessed the narrow defeat of a brilliant mare and colt In Park Top and Nijinsky, besides which I am a great believer in the advantages of a home defender unruffled by the rowdy free-for-all

big days' in France, which leads me to the second favourites, Ramsin and Pistol Packer. The former accounted for rivals Hallez and Bourbon in Sr Cloud's Grand Prix anti stays forever, but the filly, unbeaten this season, continues ti improve and a fortnight ago strode away with the Prix Vermeille over this course and distance and should at least earn a piace.

There is nothing more satisfying than finding the winner of a handicap as large and as open as the Cambridgeshire and I shall be highly pleased with myself if, against the odds, a filly wins this too. A lo1 has been written about the chances of the near-classic threeyear-olds, 1 ula Rocket and Rugged, but cn her defeat of the greatly improved Hill Circus last time out, Hitescar is, I believe, more than their equal in class and unlike many of her sex is a tenacious and dependable fighter. Caius and Piggott are probably most danger ous. Should the improbable happen and Hitescar succeed, it would be only logical to follow the aforementioned Hill Circus's fortunes when she takes on the brilliant Catherine Wheel in an exciting five-filly contest for the following Sun Chariot Stakes.

Assets: E13.85. Outlay: £3 e.w. Pistol Packer, E2 e.w. Hitescar and E2 to win Hill Circus.