John Gosden fears Enable faces a "mighty task" in trying to concede seven pounds to Love in Sunday's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
The brilliant six-year-old is bidding to win Europe's premier all-aged middle-distance championship for an unprecedented third time having narrowly missed out when going down to Waldgeist last year.
This is her fourth appearance in the race and the trainer told Paddy Power Media’s podcast, From The Horse’s Mouth: " I think she was overwhelmingly the best as a three-year-old getting the weight in her first Arc. The second Arc she struggled, had an injury, came back won in the September Stakes, then got sick and then went to the Arc and look she was fortunate that day – a very lovely filly Sea Of Class came at her late but the line came in time.
"But she’d missed some work but she hung in there and last year she ran a blinder. I think we all went a stride quick and all moved a little bit soon for the conditions and let’s hope we can go one better this year, but we’re totally aware that with Love getting all the weight, it’s a mighty task giving that weight, but having said that, we benefitted from it when we were a three-year-old winning the Arc, filly so we can’t exactly complain now!"
The trainer is pleased with her 2020 campaign to date having chased home Ghaiyyath in the Coral-Eclipse, winning a third King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot and warming-up for ParisLonchamp with a routine win in the September Stakes at Kempton.
"Well I think she’s found it more difficult – she’s older and bigger and heavier and getting to race fitness – I went gently at it, it was a struggle though and when I ran her in the Eclipse, I was very clear with everyone beforehand that the race would put her right. She went there at 80% and the race did put her right – she went and won the King George," he added.
"She’s been in good form since, she had a nice breeze round in the September Stakes, nothing too taxing for her because the Arc has been the target all year. She’s happy and well in herself – Frankie breezed her on the round gallop on the Limekilns on Saturday and he was very pleased with her so look, we’re here and hope we’ll get there on the day.
"It’s still a few days to go and she’s ready to put in a big, bold effort. We’re perfectly aware how tough the race is and we’re perfectly aware how tough the opposition is."
