It’s been almost three years since the mighty Enable secured Arc glory for a second successive year and French trained runners have had success on home soil in the last two years. However, UK and Ireland racing hold a strong hand of candidates this time around.
Be sure to get your horse racing tips of the day ahead of the action on Sunday.
12 months ago, Sottsass was ridden home by Christian Demuro for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget before being retired to stand at stud for Coolmore.
This year, UK & Ireland Racing hold high hopes of taking all the glory in Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris.
UK & Ireland Racing Seek More Arc Glory on Sunday
Starting With the Favourite
Tarnawa is the leading candidate with the bookmakers in Sunday’s huge race, a 5/2 shot with various shops. Trained by Dermot Weld for owner His Highness the Aga Khan. The five-year-old has blossomed as time has gone on, failing in the 2019 Epsom Oaks, Tarnawa has won seven of her nine starts since, including in the Breeders Cup Turf at Keeneland in the USA.
The horse has history at ParisLongchamp too, winning the Qatar Prix Vermeille in September 2020 before following up at the Arc track in the Prix de L’Opera. Track experience is always handy in racing. She is also versatile ground wise and it’s easy to see why the mare is currently trading as the favourite for the race.
Her second to the now-retired St Mark’s Basilica in the Irish Champion Stakes, ahead of Poetic Flare, was a fine display against two of the horses of the season.
The Aga Khan’s number one jockey in France, Christophe Soumillion, takes the mount from leading Irish jockey Colin Keane, who had become the horses main pilot after his success in the Breeders Cup.
Soumillion guided Tarnawa to her two Longchamp winners to-date and was an obvious choice. The Belgian jockey is looking to continue his fine form after teaming up with Richard Fahey to ride Perfect Power to victory in the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday, September 25.
William Buick Makes Big Godolphin Call
Godolphin’s retained rider William Buick has decided to ride Cazoo Derby winner Adayar on Sunday. He had a big decision to make with fellow stable star, Irish derby and Doncaster St Leger winner, Hurricane Lane, also lining up.
Buick rode Hurricane Lane in the derby at Epsom Downs earlier this year, but found him to be no match for Adayar, who was admirably carried home to victory by unsung hero Adam Kirby.
Adayar has since, under Buick’s guidance, become the first Derby winner since Galileo in 2001 to win both the Epsom Classic and Ascot’s King George, proving him to be the real deal. Some derby winners over the years have struggled to win another race after their moment in the sun, let alone one of the level of the King George.
All that considered, Hurricane Lane is still a real contender in this race and might represent the most value in the market. The derby defeat remains his only loss and the son of Frankel has shown himself to be versatile, winning races from one mile up to one mile and six furlongs.
He is another one with potentially valuable Longchamp experience, destroying the field in the Grand Prix de Paris, winning by six lengths.
The bookies have made Adayar the favourite of the pair, a general 11/4 shot, with Hurricane Lane available at 6/1.
Aidan O’Brien Seeks Hat-Trick of Arc Winners
Supreme Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien is seeking a hat-trick of Arc winners with UK & Irish Oaks double Snowfall. Snowfall won those classics by over 24 combined lengths, a remarkable achievement. She may be the forgotten horse of the race, having looked so ruthless in achieving that feat.
Her loss to Teona in Longchamp earlier this month was remarkably disappointed as she set off the 1/5 favourite for the race and has previously beaten Roger Varian’s filly comfortably on two occasions.
Snowfall is dangerous to ignore solely on that effort.
O’Brien has previously trained Dylan Thomas and Found to Arc glory. Snowfall is 5/1 to join them in making history.
Other Candidates Outside UK & Ireland Racing
UK champion jockey Oisin Murphy, who is also very much on his way to a second consecutive jockey’s title, has been booked to ride Japanese hope Chrono Genesis. The filly’s neck second to Mishriff at Meydan is strong form and she could be anything. Murphy’s booking is sure to intrigue some punters at around 10/1.
Raabihah appears to represent France’s best hope in the betting, for last year’s winning trainer Jean-Claude Rouget. Representing Shadwell, the son of Sea The Stars finished fifth in last year’s race and this looks much stronger, really.
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