L’Arc De Triomphe Takes Centre Stage At Longchamp

The brilliant mare Enable will bid to win, arguably, the greatest flat race in the world, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, for an unprecedented third time at Paris-Longchamp this afternoon but, at 4/6, I shall be looking for an each way alternative although she is, undeniably, the best horse in the race.

Longchamp (3.05 – l’Arc de Triomphe): Waldgeist

Godolphin’s Ghaiyyath – 12s with BetVictor – looks sure to ensure there is an end-to-end gallop which should suit the favourite but also Aidan O’Brien’s Japan and the Andre Fabre-trained five-year-old Waldgeist (3.05) who at 16/1 gets the each way vote in the l’arc de Triomphe.

Andre Fabre’s 5-y-old finished 2L behind Enable in the King George at Ascot in the summer having met trouble in running at the top-of-the straight. The sectional times showed Waldgeist’s last furlong was quicker than both winner Enable and runner up Crystal Ocean, and he should have today’s race run to suit. Drawn in stall three and with a decent pace, seemingly, guaranteed I hope he can swoop fast and late under Pierre-Charles Boudot for Andre Fabre who is bidding for a record-breaking eighth success in the race.

Longchamp (1.15): Savarin

The first of six Group 1 contests on the card is the Prix Marcel Boussac over a mile for two-year-old fillies. With the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile taking place on Friday at Newmarket the British challenge is non-existent although Jessica Harrington saddles Albigna for Ireland. The latter is 9/4 at BetVictor but she finished a modest sixth in the Moyglare at the Curragh last time and it will be disappointing if the French did not keep the prize on home soil.

Fifty-year-old Japanese sporting legend Yutaka Take takes over in the saddle on the Japanese owned Savarin (1.15) and the Andre Fabre-trained filly is taken to maintain her unbeaten record. A daughter of Deep Impact the selection – 9/4 – scored over C&D in Group 2 company last time, has a decent draw in stall four and is taken to beat stablemate Bionic Woman.

Longchamp (1.50): Victor Ludorum

All bar one of the seven colts – again no British representatives – who contest the Jean Luc Lagadere won last time out, the exception being Aidan O’Brien’s Armory, who finished 9l behind the brilliant Pinatubo in the National Stakes at the Curragh last time. A big run from the Ballydoyle representative would further enhance the claims of Pinatubo for next weekend’s Dewhurst Stakes and next spring’s 2000 Guineas for which he is currently priced at Evens with BetVictor.

Godolphin own Pinatubo, last weekend’s Middle Park winner Earthlight and also Victor Ludorum (1.50) who has also won both starts so far this term and can take this step up in class in his stride. It may not have been much of a race that the selection won last time, but he showed a terrific turn of foot to come from last to first in the manner of a class act. The colt is 11/8 at BetVictor.

Longchamp (3.55): Mehdaayih

I didn’t think Frankie Dettori gave Mehdaayih (3.55) a particularly good ride in the Nassau Stakes last time but I hope the filly – 15/8 – returns to winning ways in the Prix l’Opera given she has a good draw in stall three. Coronation Stakes winner Watch Me steps up to 10f for the first time this afternoon, but a bigger danger might be the selection’s lightly-raced stablemate Terebellum who would relish any significant rain.

Longchamp (4.30): Battaash

Battassh (4.30) cannot be opposed in the Prix l’Abbeye after the brilliance of his win in the Nunthorpe at York in August but do note he disappointed in this race 12 months ago and his scintillating win in this corresponding race in 2017 was gained at Chantilly and not Longchamp.

Longchamp (5.05): City Light

I am a massive fan of City Light (5.05) and will be disappointed if he does not take the finale – 5/2 – having shown improved form for the step up to 7f in recent starts. Glorious Journey looks overpriced at 12/1 for Charlie Appleby and William Buick but the French five-year-old was a facile winner over C&D last time although he wouldn’t want the ground to get too testing.