Friendly Soul has been added into Sunday's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at the latest stage, making a field of 16 for the Longchamp showpiece.
Connections of Prix Vermeille winner Friendly Soul, trained by John & Thady Gosden, are rolling the dice in the big one after she won a free entry to the Arc for her course-and-distance success in the trial earlier this month.
Explaining the decision, Tom Goff, who oversees owner George Strawbridge's European operation, told the Nick Luck Daily Podcast: "It's a free supplementary. This is a relatively new initiative, for the winner of the Prix Vermeille to have a free entry to the Arc today.
"After long discussions between John, Thady, the owner and myself, we've decided to give it a go. It wasn't a total no-brainer, we had to weigh up the pros and cons.
"But in terms of the progression of her season , it started off in nearly disastrous circumstances (put her foot in a hole at Haydock) and she's gradually got into her groove I think it's fair to say. She had a strange run at Ascot, where she got shuffled back and ran on well behind Blue Bolt. It was a run of promise but it was arguably short of her best trip as well.
"Then we've gone to the Nassau and she's run an absolutely fantastic race there in defeat behind Diamond Necklace, giving her a lot of weight. It was pretty quick that day and she just felt it in the closing stages.
"We came up with the idea of a supplementary for the Vermeille, which wasn't cheap but thank goodness it worked out she really showed her best form, she really put her best foot forward and she showed that she got a mile and a half.
"So there are lots of reasons but we've decided to give it a go. Let's hope fortune favours the brave."
Four horses were removed from the race on Tuesday - namely Sunly, Tattycoram, Pearled Majesty and Light The Ghost, which leaves a current list of 16 for the Group 1 event.
Last year's winner Daryz heads the betting at a general 7/4 ahead of the William Haggas-trained Maltese Cross who is a 9/2 chance with Paddy Power and Sky Bet.
Aidan O'Brien runs the three-year-olds Diamond Necklace and Benvenuto Cellini, plus last year's runner-up Minnie Hauk, while Andrew Balding and Juddmonte rely on the King George and Yorkshire Oaks winner Kalpana, who was unplaced in the race from a wide draw last October.
The definitive final field, draw and jockey bookings will all be confirmed a ceremony on Thursday evening.
Latest Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe betting:
Paddy Power & Sky Bet: 7/4 Daryz, 9/2 Maltese Cross, 6/1 Kalpana, 7/1 Diamond Necklace, 9/1 Thundering On, 10/1 Varandir, 16s Bay City Roller, 20s Minnie Hauk, Benvenuto Cellini, 33 Bar.
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