Fortune jets over to Canada for the mount on Lucarno in the Pattison Canadian International on Saturday but will make a quick return to Longchamp to team up with Sir Michael Stoute’s charge, who was only just beaten by Duke Of Marmalade in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

David Stack, a member of the Papal Bull Syndicate, said: “We have booked Jimmy Fortune. I suppose it’s a bit of a left-field decision but something we have managed to sort out.

“I think Jimmy has another ride in France on Sunday and we are very exited to have him.”

Six-time champion jockey Kieren Fallon nominated Soldier Of Fortune as his idea of the Arc winner.

Fallon has won the prestigious event twice – aboard Hurricane Run in 2005 and Dylan Thomas 12 months ago – and has ridden a handful of contenders in this year’s race.

“He would be my first pick if there was cut in the ground,” Fallon said of Soldier Of Fortune.

“Going into the race last year I thought he was the one. For a while I thought I was on the wrong horse because we believed the ground would be soft but it came up good in the end.

“He just got tired at the end, but Aidan (O’Brien) said if he hadn’t run a couple of weeks before that he’d have been a fresher horse and a better horse, and he’s a year older this year.

“For me, I wouldn’t look beyond him if they had a drop of rain over there.

“He’s been trained for the race, he’s been kept fresh and I think this will be his race.”

O’Brien’s Duke Of Marmalade has been all the rage in the lead-up to the race but Fallon believes the achievement of winning five Group Ones on the bounce may have taken its toll.

“He’s a big power horse and it’s all going to depend on the ground I think,” Fallon told At The Races.

“If the ground is good, good to firm, it will suit him. He’s had a long year and he had a hard race in the King George and I just wonder whether he has had enough.

“However, if Aidan has him on his A-game he will be the horse to beat.” Fallon warned punters not to discount Papal Bull either.

“Papal Bull is a lot better horse than people think, he has serious speed figures,” continued Fallon.

He’s a horse that would really appreciate cut in the ground and if there is some, this horse has every chance.

“Yesterday morning he was jumping out of his skin and he’s a horse you would have to respect in a race like this. At 20-1, you couldn’t leave him out.”

Stoute also runs Ask and his owner Patrick Fahey is another hoping for some rainfall in France.

“He’s had a break, he’s in very good form and he worked very well last week,” said Fahey.

“We’d like some rain, the more the better in fact, but he’s going there with a good chance.

“We’ve been pleased with him this season but the ground wasn’t in his favour at Ascot (in the King George) and maybe we shouldn’t have run him – it was just too firm.

“But he’s had a good rest now and he’s in fine fettle so we are looking forward to yielding or soft ground.”

Ralph Beckett’s Oaks winner Look Here has not been supplemented for the race.

“We had to run all the tests on her and we were not happy with her blood sample,” said Beckett.

“She looks fantastic and we have been happy with her work but you have got to be in top order for a race like the Arc so she will not run at the weekend.” German Derby winner Kamsin was the only supplementary entry.

Longchamp’s ground measured at 3.2 (good) on the penetrometer on Thursday.

Clerk of the course Christian Delporte said: “Some rain is expected but unless precipitations exceed 10mm between now and Sunday – the state of the ground should not deteriorate.”

Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

Coral bet: 7-4 Zarkava, 4-1 Duke Of Marmalade, 9-2 Soldier Of Fortune, 13-2 Vision D’Etat, 12-1 Getaway, Youmzain, 16-1 Meisho Samson, 20-1 Papal Bull, 25-1 bar.