Masked Marvel gets surprise Arc opportunity

English St Leger winner Masked Marvel was the surprise among Thursday's three supplementary entries for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Europe's most prestigious horserace run at Longchamp on Sunday. The John Gosden-trained classic winner was joined on Thursday by Meandre - trained by seven-time Arc winning handler Andre Fabre - and progressive German filly Danedream. The only withdrawal at the latest forfeit stage was Seville trained by Irishman Aidan O'Brien, who still has three runners including former crack Australian champion So You Think bidding to give him only his second winner in the race. That leaves a field of 16 to go to post - the crucial barrier draw is on Friday with last year's unlucky third Sarafina the favourite to give trainer Alain de Royer Dupre his third win and owner His Highness the Aga Khan his fifth. Gosden, who has never won the Arc, had been expected to supplement his King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Nathaniel but the predicted good going after no rain this week ruled him out of contention. Thus just as in the St Leger - the world's oldest classic - 60-year-old Gosden has called on Masked Marvel, who will be ridden by Norway-born William Buick, to deputise for Nathaniel. Unlike Nathaniel another horse who would not be favoured by the going, French Derby winner Reliable Man, has stood his ground, his trainer de Royer Dupre telling AFP on Wednesday that he would only make his mind up at the last minute. Reliable Man had Meandre well behind him on his previous run in the influential Arc trial the Prix Niel earlier this month. However, Fabre in one of his rare forays into public speaking revealed that his runner had been affected by a cough sweeping his yard at the time. Certainly Meandre would be a serious contender to give him an eighth win based on his win in July's Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp where Reliable Man was well in arrears. Danedream will be bidding to give Germany only their second win in the race, though, she wouldn't be as big a shock winner as Star Appeal's win was in 1975 having won two Group Ones this season against older horses. Her most impressive performance was her six length win on September 4 in the Gross Preis von Baden admittedly in pouring rain and is now under new ownership having been bought by Japanese breeder Teruya Yoshida. Fillies may have only won two Arcs in the last 17 runnings but they will have a great chance of adding to that on Sunday as it was also confirmed last year's five-time Group One winner Snow Fairy was confirmed as a definite runner by trainer Ed Dunlop. "Decision made SF runs in the Arc!! Exciting or what and Frankie (Dettori) rides!!" tweeted the 43-year-old trainer. Sir Michael Stoute meanwhile is concerned over the possibility of fast ground for last year's winner Workforce. Stoute told At The Races: "I've been really happy with his preparation, but disappointed to hear about the weather forecast because he's a big heavy horse and we do like good ground for him. "We're a long way from it at the moment and someone's going to have a look at the track and give us an update. I am concerned about the ground." He added: "We're very happy with his condition and it looks a particularly strong renewal of the Arc this year."