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The three year olds have their Arc test in the Prix Niel at Longchamp on Sunday.

Strangely it's not been a great recent guide to the big race. Reliable Man won before heading down under. Can the 2019 Prix Niel (2400m) at Longchamp on Sunday provide Arc form lines this year?

2019 PRIX NIEL - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

The Prix Niel is a Group 2 race run under Set Weight conditions for three year old colts and fillies at Longchamp conducted by France Galop.

The Prix Niel is run over 2400m. It was first run in 1953 and was won by Shikampur. An original version of the race was known as the Prix de Chantilly.

It was initially at Chantilly at 3100m for open ages but moved to Longchamp. It changed to be for 3yos when the Prix Foy was introduced in 1955 becoming the race for all comers.

Renamed after Gaston Niel from Société d'Encouragement, it was a Group 3 but was upgraded in 1987.

The race is part of Arc Trial day run three weeks prior to the Arc meeting.

Rail Link in 2006 is the last horse to do the Prix Niel/Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe double.

In 2011 Reliable Man won the Niel and then 18 months on went to Chris Waller where he would win a Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick before retiring with an injury.

The 2016 and 2017 editions were run at Chantilly as Longchamp was under its long term redevelopment.

Yves Saint-Martin and Freddy Head have most wins as a jockey with four. Andre Fabre has most training wins at eleven.

The last non-French winner was Brundtland in 2018 for Charlie Appleby.

The Prix Niel is worth €130,000 in 2019.

Notable winners of the Prix Niel include Cracksman (2017), New Bay (2015), Ectot (2014), Reliable Man (2011), Vision d'Etat (2008), Rail Link (2006), Hurricane Run (2005), Dalakhani (2003), Sinndar (2000), Montjeu (1999), Sagamix (1998), Helissio (1996), Carnegie (1994), Subotica (1991), Golden Pheasant (1989), Trempolino (1987), Sagace (1983) and Vaguely Noble (1968).

The 2018 Prix Niel was won by Brundtland from Hunting Horn and Neufbosc.