Sunday 1st October 2023
Author: Jordan Yates (EvRacing_)
Welcome aboard to my Arc Day Preview where I’ve got five selections in all six of the Group 1 races that are set to take place on the day, including the big one itself. So, as ever, if you are having a punt on my picks, make sure to do so in a responsible manner.
1.15: Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere: We begin the day with the Jean-Luc Lagadere which is the first of a whole host of Group 1 action set to take place at Longchamp on Arc Day. This is a two-year-old race over seven furlongs and I’m taking a chance on Zabiari for Jean-Claude Rouget and Christian Domero. He’s a Wootton Bassett colt who’s been progressing with each run culminating with a Group 3 success here on his most recent start, at the prices he looks a solid pick at his current rate of progression. Zabiari – 9/1 (Each-Way)
1.50: Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac: The Marcel Boussac is up next which is a race for two-year-old fillies over a mile. In this year’s renewal, I find it hard to abandon Darnation despite her wide draw, for the team of Karl Burke and Clifford Lee. She’s been a fantastic campaigner this term for connections and arrives here unbeaten in four starts, with her most recent success coming in the Group 2 May Hill Stakes at Doncaster where she was impressive once again. It’s likely that she’s not done progressing just yet and shouldn’t have any issues with the ground. Darnation – 7/2 (Win)
3.05: Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe: The big one comes up at 3:00 with fifteen runners going to post in this year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Ace Impact is currently the warm favourite, and on what he’s shown so far this term will be tough to beat if he handles the trip. I’ve tried to take him on though with another home challenger at a bigger price in Feed The Flame at 9/1 who’s the mount of Christophe Soumillon. He was beaten by the favourite over a shorter trip earlier in the season but went on to win the Grand Prix de Paris and despite being beaten at short odds last time in the Group 2 Prix Neil when finishing second, that was still a solid prep run. He’ll have no issues with the distance or ground and gets the age allowance, he’ll be the one for me as an each-way play. Feed The Flame – 9/1 (Each-Way)
3.50: Prix de l’Opera Longines: We move on to the Prix de l’Opera which is contested over a mile and two furlongs and I have to try and take Blue Rose Cen on here following her last two runs and I’m going to do that with Lumiere Rock who’s currently a 7/1 chance for Joseph O’Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle. She comes into the race on the back of a productive campaign with her most recent outing coming at the Curragh in September where she won the Group 2 Blandford Stakes in impressive style. If she turns up to this particular assignment in the same form I think she’s got every chance of running a very big race. Lumiere Rock – 7/1 (Each-Way)
4.25: Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines: It’s five-furlong action now in the Prix de l’Abbaye and I’m siding with an Irish challenger here in the form of Moss Tucker who represents the team of Ken Condon and Billy Lee. He’s had a great campaign this season, winning three times, all of which came within pattern company and the latest being a Group 1 success at the Curragh in the Flying Five Stakes in September. He’s a tough sort who’s versatile ground-wise and if he gets a bit of luck in the run in this contest I can’t see why he can’t post another big effort. Moss Tucker – 9/1 (Each-Way)
5.00: Qatar Prix de la Foret: My finals punt of the day come in the Prix de la Foret which concludes the Group 1 action for the afternoon. I’ve gone with two picks here, the first of which is the obvious one in Kinross who’s currently clear at the top of the betting for Frankie Dettori and Ralph Beckett, he’s the best in the business at this distance and comes into the race in great form again having won at York and Goodwood, it’s hard to see him not retaining his crown. I’ve also gone with Cachet as an each-way alternative, last year’s 2000 Guineas winner returned to the track at Doncaster a couple of weeks ago to blow the cobwebs away and it’s likely that she’ll be a lot sharper for this. If returning to her form of last season he could run a big race at a big price. Kinross – 11/10 (Win) – Cachet 14/1 (Each-Way)
