WEST Ilsley trainer Mick Channon is under no illusions about the size of the task facing Youmzain as his stable star bids to make it third time lucky in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday.

The six-year-old has finished a gallant runner-up to Dylan Thomas and Zarkava in the last two renewals of the Group 1 contest.

Following his third in the Grosser Mercedes-Benz Preis von Baden earlier this month, Youmzain is a 25-1 outsider with Investec Derby hero Sea The Stars the red-hot favourite.

Channon said: “It looks as if we have another superstar in our way.

“They keep turning up for the race and we'll try again.

“He's as ready as he needs to be and has been bursting with health since Germany.”

As at Baden-Baden, Youmzain will be ridden by Kieren Fallon, but this time will sport blinkers for the first time.

That decision came at the instigation of owner Jaber Abdullah.

And Channon (above) added: “That's what the horse's owner and racing manager want, and I have to go along with it.”

Meanwhile, the West Ilsley trainer struck with Mister Hughie in a Haydock nursery, Saxby in a Kempton claimer and Pintura in a Warwick nursery.

Crossbow Creek sprang a 25-1 surprise at Ascot for owner-trainer-rider Mark Rimell, who is based at Leafield, near Witney.

The 11-year-old gelding, better known for his exploits over jumps, came home a length-and-a-half clear in the Bollinger Champagne Challenge Series Final Handicap for male amateur riders.

Wantage trainer Henry Candy’s concerns about how Felsham would behave at the start proved unfounded as the colt opened his account at Kempton, beating Liberty Lady by a neck in a five-furlong maiden East Ilsley trainer Hughie Morrison also struck there when Mista Ross and Travis Block ran out clear-cut winners of a mile and a half claiming stakes.

In The Slips followed up his Doncaster win for Paul Cole’s Whatcombe stables, near Wantage, with a convincing victory in a Pontefract nursery.