Arc Weekend in Paris kicks off in style with horse racing fans treated two Group 1s at Longchamp on Saturday, 5 October this year. These are the Prix du Cadran for stayers featuring the all-conquering Kyprios and the Prix Royallieu for fillies and mares.
The supporting card on the opening day of this valuable meeting also contains important Group 2 races. These include the Prix Chaudenay for three-year-olds, who may be “Cup horses” of the future, and the Prix Dollar over almost a mile-and-a-quarter.
Irish and UK horse racing betting sites always get involved with pricing up the action taking place across the Channel too. This is because so many runners head over to France in search of victory.
Arc Weekend Saturday Schedule
- 12:23 – Prix Chaudenay (Group 2) (3yo) 1m 7f
- 12:58 – Arabian Trophy des Juments (Group 1) (4yo Pureblood Arabians) 1m 2f
- 1:33 – Prix du Cadran (Group 1) (3yo+) 2m 4f
- 2:15 – Prix de la Place de la Concorde Handicap (Class 1) (3yo+) 1m
- 2:50 – Arqana Series – Haras De Bouquetot Criterium d’Automne (Class 2) (2yo) 1m
- 3:25 – Prix Daniel Wildenstein (Group 2) (3yo+) 1m
- 4:00 – Prix de Royallieu (Fillies & Mares) (Group 1) (3yo+) 1m 6f
- 4:35 – Prix Dollar (Group 2) (3yo) 1m 1f 165y
- 5:10 – Prix de la Place des Vosges Handicap (Class 1) (3yo+) 1m 4.5f
Prix Chaudenay Preview
St Leger second Illinois is a prohibitively long odds-on favourite, yet far from bombproof. Having won the Queen’s Vase during Royal Ascot in this grade, but escaping a penalty, it’s easy to see why.
This hasn’t been a lucky race for Ireland on Arc Weekend by any means; so, even though the market leader hails from the Aidan O’Brien yard, value lies elsewhere. Illinois did shape nicely when runner-up in the Grand Prix de Paris here over Bastille Weekend.
After then chasing home Los Angeles in the Great Voltigeur at York, he was favourite for the St Leger. Illinois was simply outstayed and outbattled by stable companion Jan Brueghel on Town Moor in Doncaster. Ante post odds of 1/3 just aren’t appealing at all.
A value each-way alternative is course and distance winner Columbus for last season’s Prix Chaudenay winning trainer Christophe Ferland. Although by Oasis Dream, a famous sprinter on the track, this horse has improved for going up in trip to stamina tests.
Columbus reversed previous form with Shamarkand when recording Group 3 success here in September. He ran on well from two out when taking the lead and wasn’t stopping. With no excuses for the Aga Khan’s aforementioned Shamarkand, home in third, or Chartwell who split the pair, Columbus looks an enterprising each way bet at around 8/1.
Selection: Columbus E/W
Prix du Cadran Preview
The lazy thing to do is say this race is entirely at the mercy of Kyprios. There’s plenty of truth to that, but Ballydoyle’s star stayer is a similarly undattractive price to Illinois in the Chaudenay. A double with respective selections of 1/3 each doesn’t even come in at 4/5!
Trueshan will appreciate tough going in Paris, but he’s an eight-year-old now. Alan King’s veteran only won the Prix du Cadran on Arc Weekend 12 months ago because Kyprios was injured. You would side with the O’Brien runner, who has less miles on the clock.
Aged seven, meanwhile, Andrew Balding’s Coltrane doesn’t look the force he once was after finishing fifth in the Ascot Gold Cup and trailing in last of six in the Goodwood Cup over the summer. The home team could again provide a credible each way alternative, albeit in a small field of five.
Double Major ended last term with Chaudenay success on this card and followed-up in the Group 1 Prix Royal-Oak. Although only third in the Prix de Barbeville and Vicomtesse Vigier in the spring, Christophe Ferland’s four-year-old landed the Maurice de Nieuil and Prix Kergorlay under penalties this summer.
That suggests Double Major is well worth trying over this extreme distance. It’s somewhat surprising that his old rival Sevenna’s Knight runs in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe itself rather than the Cadran as he’d be a player too. Double Major is a 6/1 shot against the mighty Kyprios and there’s more value in him finishing second than backing the red-hot favourite.
Selection: Double Major E/W
Prix de Royallieu Preview
All ground seems to come alike to Henry De Bromhead mare Term Of Endearment, so she’s the obvious starting point for punters in the second Group 1 on the Saturday of Arc Weekend. She has progressed through the grades nicely this term with victories in the Bronte Cup at York and Lillie Langtry during Glorious Goodwood.
A shot at the highest level over 1m 6f is the obvious next step for Term Of Endearment off the back of that. The Prix de Royallieu is an open race, however, and there could be more to come from the Gosdens’ One Evening on softer surfaces. She ran second in the Park Hill last autumn before Listed success at Bath and snatched third in the Prix de Pomone on her last outing.
The winner, Aventure, went on to give Bluestocking a race in the Vermeille here on the Arc Trials card. Caius Chorister has always been talked up by her enthusiastic owner, but does have something to find with Term Of Endearment for David Menuisier.
O’Brien could run as many as three three-year-olds against these older fillies. Grateful, Lily Hart and Port Fairy seem much of a muchness on paper. River Of Stars has claims for Ralph Beckett, but is another held by Term Of Endearment on York and Goodwood form. The 5/1 about the Irish raider may not last.
Selection: Term Of Endearment (NAP)
Prix Dollar Preview
We haven’t seen much of Anmaat since he won this race on Arc Weekend two years ago. Owen Burrows’ six-year-old is tricky to train and keep sound, but undoubtedly talented. Anmaat is plenty short enough at 7/4 when you consider he’s only been out on the track three times since.
Although the form of Royal Ascot Group 3 winner Jayarebe‘s Deauville second has been franked by Economics landing the Irish Champion Stakes, slower going is a concern for Brian Meehan. My Prospero hasn’t backed-up a win for almost two-and-a-half years, meanwhile.
The penalised Calif could be the answer each way. Carlos & Yann Lerner’s five-year-old won a Group 3 here on reappearance and followed-up with success at the highest level in Germany. As the runner-up from both of those successes has gone one better since, there’s substance to the form.
Calif even saw the third from his Longchamp return get within a short-neck of landing the Group 2 Prix Foy here on Arc Trials day. He may have sufficient ability to give weight and a beating to his rivals at ante post odds of 8/1.
Selection: Calif E/W
