Timeform feel Japan can win the Arc de Triomphe for the first time on Sunday

Timeform believe Japan could finally gain an elusive first Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe victory at Longchamp on Sunday.

Japanese-trained runners have experienced some high-profile heartbreak in the Arc – notably with Orfevre who went agonisingly close in 2012 and chased home Treve last season – but this year there is a strong three-pronged challenge consisting of Just A Way, Harp Star and Gold Ship.

Impressive Dubai Duty Free winner Just A Way is currently the form expert's highest-rated horse in the world, but their Chief Correspondent, Jamie Lynch, thinks that it could be worth concentrating on Harp Star and Gold Ship, the pair who fought out the finish to the Sapporo Kinen in August:

"Gold Ship is very much in the mould of Japan’s previous Arc challengers as he is a high-class older horse, fully proven at both the trip and in Group 1 company. He couldn’t quite reel in Harp Star last time, however, and it could be a similar story in Paris as Hiroyoshi Matsuda’s three-year-old filly has created a fantastic impression during her burgeoning career, arguably unlucky not to be unbeaten this season having been given far too much to do when finishing a close-up second in the Japanese Oaks," he said.

Three-year-old fillies have an excellent recent record in the Arc, and heading the European challengers is the John Gosden-trained Taghrooda. Lynch said: “We at Timeform have always been positive about Taghrooda, ever since she created such a taking impression on her debut last season.

"She has justified our belief in no uncertain terms, winning the Oaks and King George in scintillating style, and although she lost her unbeaten record to Tapestry in the Yorkshire Oaks last time she was possibly still feeling the effects of a big effort at Ascot the previous month. Having been given a short break, a bold bid is surely on the cards.”

One filly that Lynch feels isn’t so easy to assess, however, is last year’s impressive victor, Treve: “Treve produced a top-class performance in last season’s race and, put simply, a reproduction of that level of form would see her win again.

"She hasn’t looked the same filly in three defeats this season, though she was disadvantaged by being held up in a steadily-run race in the Prix Vermeille and recorded the quickest time from the turn to the line, so it would be folly to completely dismiss her claims for all she has questions to answer."

Timeform ratings Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (all ratings weight-adjusted): 142 Just A Way. 140 Treve, 137 Ruler Of The World, Harp Star, 136 Gold Ship, 135 Tapestry