JOHN OXX remains confident Sea The Stars is the horse to beat if he turns up at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp next month.

The Currabeg handler is aiming his all-conquering three-year-old at Europe’s middle distance championship contest – providing the ground is suitable. And following Sunday’s traditional trials day at Longchamp, he feels he has nothing to fear from the winners.

Oxx watches as Dar Re Mi landed the Prix Vermeille, but was demoted to fifth by the French stewards with runner-up Stacelita declared the winner.

Cavalryman and Sir Michael Stoute’s Spanish Moon won the Prix Niel and Prix Foy, but Sea The Stars is a best-priced 7-4 favourite with Sportingbet.

Oxx said: “The Arc trials are what they are and a lot of the French horses are not fully wound up, they tend to want to give them easy races and they are a bit like exercise gallops.

“On the ratings they still have lots to find, I wouldn’t read too much into the races yesterday as I’m sure all those nice horses will improve and be harder nuts to crack in three weeks’ time. But there was no outstanding performance that would make you think you’ve seen a horse that has shown dramatic improvement.

“At the same time it is another race on another day and a lot depends on luck in running and how the race is run, we’ll just have to see how they progress but no horse has shot up the ratings.

“I know the jockey and trainer of Stacelita say she comes into her own on soft ground as it stops the others and not her, but if she gets soft ground she won’t be meeting Sea The Stars, that’s the reality.

“The ground at Leopardstown in the Champion Stakes was fine, it was the soft side of good, but soft ground when they get into it takes from his performance. Proper soft ground will impede him and people do not go to the races to see him run seven, eight or 10lb below form.”

Oxx added: “If we miss the Arc we’ll have to look at the Champion Stakes at Newmarket or Santa Anita (Breeders’ Cup) and it would probably be the Classic rather than the Turf.

“No final decision has been taken yet, but it is highly unlikely he’ll be in training next year.”

Meanwhile Liverpool jockey Franny Norton was in sparkling form at Musselburgh yesterday with a 21,132-1 four-timer (see results below).

Norton completed the second four-timer of his career when Alan Berry’s 11-4 favourite Wicked Wilma landed the Watch Racing UK Online At racinguk.com Handicap. The Liverpool-born jockey said: “You could say it has been a good day, my other four-timer was at Bath.”

TODAY’S NAP: Angus Newz (4.10pm Yarmouth)