Arc de Triomphe:
Arc betting is always competitive and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe represents the culmination of the flat horse racing season. It is the final opportunity to have a bet, in Europe at least, on the top talents that have emerged during the season.
The race is usually held on the first Sunday in October at Longchamp, Paris, over a mile and four furlongs. It is one of the world’s richest flat races on turf. The weekend meeting includes seven Group 1 contests and four Group 2s. It attracts plenty of top quality UK and Irish horses and provides a number of opportunities for betting on horses you already know well, even outside of the big race itself.
This year’s Arc has an open look to it and there’s still time the market to move and it’s difficult to call whether it’ll be Tarnawa, Adayar, Hurricane Lane or Snowfall who will go off as the favourite.
Dermot Weld’s Tarnawa has been the ante-post jolly for some time but has faced a real challenge for that honour in the days leading into the race. And with hours to go, Adayar, winner of the Epsom Derby this summer for Charlie Appleby, is currently challenging for favouritism.
His Godolphin/Appleby stablemate Hurricane Lane will seek revenge for his Derby defeat and is unbeaten in three since, including a romp in the Grand Prix de Paris over C&D in July.
The Epsom Oaks winner Snowfall shattered records with that Classic win and added Irish and Yorkshire Oaks titles afterwards, though she was surprisingly beaten by Teona in last month’s Prix Vermeille over C&D in her trial run. One of that quartet seems certain to head the Arc betting come race-time.
Just as there were last year when Sottsass won – making it four French-trained winners in eight years – there are 15 declared for Arc battle now. The home squad is perhaps not as strong this time, with last year’s heavy-ground fifth Raabihah set to lead the charge for Jean-Claude Rouget.
The Japanese quest for Arc glory continues to go unsatisfied. They have a double-handed attack now via Chrono Genesis, the mount of Oisin Murphy, and Deep Bond.
As well as Snowfall, Aidan O’Brien also saddles Broome, and was meant to have Love with Dettori in the running too – but the latter is now marked as a NR. Love was the long-time favourite for this in 2020 before the ground went against her.
While the Appleby pair dominate, there are other British interests in Mojo Star – second in the Derby and St Leger for Richard Hannon – and William Haggas’ heavy-ground Royal Ascot winner Alenquer. He was no match for Hurricane Lane here in July but has chased home Mishriff since in the Group 1 Juddmonte International at York over a shorter distance.
Needless to say, today will be another magnificent wagering opportunity, and you will not want to miss putting one down this year!
3.05 Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe odds:
Hurricane Lane 5/2
Adayar 16/5
Snowfall 9/2
Tarnawa 5/1
Chrono Genesis 10/1
Alenquer 14/1
Raabihah 20/1
Deep Bond 33/1
Mojo Star 35/1
Sealiway 40/1
Torquator Tasso 50/1
