GOOD TIMES BAD TIMES; The BBC is screening nine races live from the Arc meeting and dedicating nearly two hours to the coverage: Seven of the races are behind the red button as MotoGP gets top billing.

Byline: Lee Mottershead

ONLY two of the nine live races broadcast by the BBC over Arc weekend will be available to terrestrial viewers, after France Galop insisted on an unusually early start to racing on Sunday week.

As previously revealed in the Racing Post, the BBC has switched coverage of next Saturday's Longchamp action from BBC2 to its red button service, which will broadcast four Group races, beginning with Goldikova's bid to win the Prix de la Foret.

However, despite dedicating nearly two hours to racing the following day, BBC2 will be able to show only the Arc and Prix de l'Opera live due to France Galop's decision to schedule the Prix de l'Abbaye, Prix Marcel Boussac and Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere before the BBC2 programme starts at 2pm.

The three "missing" highlights will be televised in a special BBC red button programme beginning at 12.40pm, at which time BBC2 will be showing the Portuguese MotoGP.

France Galop has also ensured the BBC will not show Yeats running in the Prix du Cadran, due to its decision to sandwich an Arab race in between France's premier staying event and the Arc.

With John Parrott working on snooker for the BBC next weekend, Robert Cooper will make his terrestrial debut as one half of a betting double-act, alongside Gary Wiltshire.

Looking forward to his terrestrial elevation, Cooper, one of the senior At The Races presenters, said: "The last time I worked with Gary Wiltshire was for the old Racing Channel at the Cheltenham Festival.

"I was stood in between him and Mark Winstanley. I felt like withered lettuce in a vast bap."

BBC Longchamp schedule Saturday: Red button (2.30-4.30pm) 2.40 Prix de la Foret, 3.15 Prix de Royallieu, 3.45 Prix Daniel Wildenstein, 4.20 Prix Dollar.

Sunday: Red button (12.40-2pm) 12.45 Prix de l'Abbaye, 1.20 Prix Marcel Boussac, 1.55 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere; BBC2 (2-3.50pm) 2.30 Prix de l'Opera, 3.15 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.