Racing: Arc field depleted

THE ARC betting is dormant as backers await the final field, which will emerge after today's supplementary stage. Before any additions, there are just 12 runners left, following the removal yesterday of Ebadiyla, the sole remaining Irish challenger, and Venetia Williams's Stretarez, among others. Kieren Fallon's mount, though, has been confirmed as Paul Cole's Courteous.

Twenty-one have stood their ground for the Champion Stakes at Newmarket on 17 October. Aidan O'Brien has left Second Empire and Kitza in the race and Tommy Stack's Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Tarascon is also entered. The Andre Fabre-trained Limpid and Xaar also appear in the list, alongside Pascal Bary's Croco Rouge.

The weights will rise 5lb for the Cesarewitch Handicap on the same card after top-weight Rainwatch was among 15 horses taken out of the race at yesterday's second forfeit stage.

Bold Gait tops the weights on 9st 10lb, and the ante-post favourite Lord Lamb is now only 3lb out of the handicap on 7st 7lb. Forty-two remain in the contest, but only 36 can run.