Prix De L'Arc De Triomphe Day - Sunday

Absolutely stunning day's racing - seven Group 1 races - eight if you count the Arab Horse race. It's incredibly competitive, but FWIW, here are my picks.

1.00 SOLE POWER Only one issue in this race - will SP turn up in good form and get the breaks. He's by far the best sprinter in this race, and the distance and going are suitable. Hughesy is his ideal pilot now Johnny Murtagh has retired. 5/2 factors in the doubts. There are no realistic alternatives if Sole Power turns up on form.

1.35 Ervedya boasts excellent form, including a narrow defeat (in third) to the colt The Wow Signal in the Prix Morny. But Aidan O'Brien's FOUND has potential to improve past her and looks a strong candidate to win this en route to becoming a winter favourite for next year's 1,000 Guineas. Her form in the Moyglare Stud Stakes is rock solid, and further improvement can be expected. Ryan Moore's assistance can only be a positive.

2.10 The Wow Signal won the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Prix Morny at Deauville. But GLENEAGLES is also a Group 1 winner and was victorious at The Curragh over seven furlongs, whereas The Wow Signal's wins have come over six. My opinion is that Gleneagles has the greater scope for improvement, being by the all-conquering sire Galileo. I get the impression that The Wow Signal's achievements thus far have come as a pleasant surprise to connections.

2.45 The two English-trained fillies are top on the ratings here, so granted sensible rides from Frankie and William Buick, you can back both RIBBONS and SULTANINA at 6/1 and 7/1 respectively and show a profit.

3.30 An exceptionally competitive and open Arc. JUST A WAY is top of the ratings on form, notwithstanding some question marks about the distance. Unbeaten in three runs this year (two at Group 1 level) and the Japanese are desperate to have a first winner of this race after close runs in the last three years. But three-year-olds have a generous weight allowance in this race and a good record over the last twenty years, so the Gosden-trained filly TAGHROODA, who has already beaten the colts at Group 1 level, and the French-trained ECTOT, who has scope for major improvement, also need to be backed. The best prices are 6/1 twice and 8/1, which allows for a realistic bet which gives three chances in an open year.

4.50 Clear top-rated here is Richard Hannon's OLYMPIC GLORY, who is not entirely consistent. I'll take him together with KARAKONTIE (French 2,000 Guineas winner) and the Roger Varian trained ALJAMAAHEER, who has threatened a big performance all year without things falling right. You can have 11/2, 6/1 and 16/1 about them, making it possible to have an interest in all three.

Good Luck to all on a cracking day's racing.

 

Taghrooda for thereev int arc, despite poor draw. Class act and if positioned correctly early on should win.

Luck needed in running but that goes for em all.

Hth

 

Can't argue with that, Mr Reev. If she hadn't been beat at York she'd have been a strong favourite. She was found to have been coming into season after that race though, so she has excuses. Have to have Just A Way and Ectot on side though, although I think many other dangers abound!