I have been in Paris this week for a trip that culminates in the greatest all-aged race in the World today. At Lonchamp yesterday the ground was noticeably wetter than many expected after a warm and sunny few days, there's definitely been plenty of watering going on but it should dry out to something like good ground all round by Arc time. It was clover for British trainers on Saturday although a mixed afternoon for punters with a end of day hammer blow of Sunly, Scandinavia and Qudwah all beaten. A frustrating day punting wise was softened by Qirat going pillar to post in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein under a power packed Silvestre De Sousa. A lovely hot Autumnal day and it looks like we're in store for something similar today. It's fair to say this isn't the strongest undercard in recent years and the Arc itself is perhaps lacking in the usual depth but we have a truly great story about to be written if the Aga Khan's Daryz can become the first colt since 1978 to win back to back renewals of the great race. It's a big day in France and hopefully a few winners can be found.
12:31, Prix Marcel Boussac
Green Empress 7/4, 2pts win
In a season where Sun Goddess has dominated the fillies' juvenile division it's now one who finished beaten behind her last time out who rocks up as a short priced favourite for the first race of the day. It's not the hottest Group 1 and although it's a big field, Joseph O'Brien's Green Empress brings by far the best form to the table here and should take all the beating.
///
13:09, Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere
Avec Toi 7/2, 2pts win
Joseph O'Brien will fancy his chances of taking both the juvenile Group 1's and after his victory in the National Stakes last time out, Folsom Blues will be a short price again here. His form stacks up and is a colt with a serious turn of foot but he's had a hard season and this may not be run at the frantic pace of that race at the Curragh the last day. He's up against a serious opponent in the unbeaten Avec Toi today and it's the French colt who makes the most appeal at the prices. The son of No Nay Never looked imperious on his first 3 starts when dismissing his rivals with contempt before having to out-battle Imperial Strike in a Group 3 last month. That run maybe has a few thinking his limitations have been exposed but the runner up was also unbeaten going into that and the pair drew well clear of the 3rd. This bigger field will suit Christopher head's colt better as he'll be able to get some cover and could be better positioned than the favourite.
///
13:47, Prix de l'Abbaye
Time For Sandals 7/1, 2pts win
The Abbaye is normally an open affair and this year's renewal looks no different. Katie Scott's Naana's Shadow has been a revelation this year and some story but the filly has been done no favours by the draw and has lost favouritism because of it. Miss Yerchance has favoured better and could be hard to catch if she shoots out the stalls and bags the rail but with plenty of pace on up front it could be that a hold up performer comes through (given gaps appear). With that in mind maybe today is the day for Time For Sandals. Harry Eustace's filly has become a bit frustrating over the past few months but she's not had the rub of the green and is still holding her form well. She was an unlucky loser of the Nunthorpe and stall 10 isn't a hammer blow for her chances given the run-style.
///
15:05, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Thundering On 8/1, 2pts win
Maltese Cross 8/1, 2pts win
The biggest race in the European calendar is here and it's a tricky betting heat. In a race where there's not masses of pace on, perhaps Friendly Soul will make the running and she should run well for all the this is a hard task on a first go against the colts. Bay City Roller could be one to make an early move but the draw has been unkind and the ground has gone against George Scott's stable star. Minnie Hauk is another who would be a surprise winner having not held her form this year and Diamond Necklace's supporters were left in tears after seeing the coffin draw come out, she now has a mountain the climb. Benvenuto Cellini has faired much better but there's still a worry about the stable and he's probably just lacking a few gears to win a race like this. Varandir is respected after winning his trial for all he has another step up to make and both the Japanese Horses will have to run career bests to be in the shake up. Kalpana has been steadily backed in the week, especially after the draw and she's now the shortest priced raider. Nothing went right for her in last year's race but she's now a King George winner with a good draw. She's one of the best in Europe and must have a great chance for all the query is that she's had a hard season and was the benefit of how the race panned out at Ascot. It will be hard to time the run here and she's now short enough. Last year's winner Daryz will take a lot of beating and he looked like a horse ready to explode when toying with Bay City Roller in his trial last time out. He clearly doesn't travel well so lines can be drawn on his runs in the UK. The son of Sea The Stars has a great draw and ground which should be ideal. It's a huge task to win back to back renewals of the Arc though and perhaps he's worth opposing at the prices. Maltese Cross has been done no favours by the draw but it's not the end of the world and William Haggas' Sea The Stars colt has shown he can win round this track and was in imperious form at York last time out. The 3 year old has apparently been going great guns on the gallops of late and is tactically versatile. The form has taken some knocks but the course suits his style and won't be as far back as others. He must have a great chance of delivering his trainer a first Arc, 8 years after Sea Of Class's 2nd place finish. The other who is worth siding with is another who ran at Epsom in June, Thundering On. Joseph O'Brien's filly looked a proper Arc prospect when bolting up in the Oaks before losing her form in the Pretty Polly. After an easy time since, she bounced back to form to hack up in a Group 2 last time out and now looks to be coming right again for her biggest assignment. She's had an easier 2nd half of the season than others and has been given the plum draw in stall 3. The trainer couldn't be in much better form and he's enlisted the services of Pierre Charles-Boudot for the biggest occasion which looks a shrewd move. It's a big day, a big race and hopefully we're in store for a big finish.
