Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Runners & Tips: A guide to all 15 horses lining up at Longchamp
A field of 15 will do battle in the 2021 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, which takes place at Longchamp on Sunday afternoon, and Steve Chambers takes a look at each contender and weighs up their chances...
1. Torquator Tasso - R Piechulek - M Weiss (12)
A Group 1 winner last time out at Baden-Baden, Torquator Tasso will have a much stiffer test on his hands here, and is likely to be a huge price for this event. He had previously been beaten in Group 1 company by Sir Mark Prescott's Alpinista two starts ago, but that form is relatively strong with Prescott's charge in fine form of late, but this will be a huge ask for the German raider.
2. Deep Bond - M Barzalona - R Okubo (5)
One of two Japanese runners in the field and the Ryuji Okubo-trained four-year-old was last seen downing the Aidan O'Brien-trained Broome in the Prix Foy At Longchamp. That Group 2 victory was only his third success of his entire career in ten races, and this is most certainly his hardest assignment to date. He should frank the form with Broome here, and having a win at the track is a notable positive, but realistic assessment of his chances would see him challenging for the minor places.
3. Broome - Y Take - A O'Brien (7)
One of three Aidan O'Brien-trained runners taking their chance here, but Broome appears the least likely of the trio to star in France. Unable to deal with Deep Bond in the Prix Foy last time out, the Ballydoyle raider had previously finished fourth of five behind Adayar in the King George at Ascot. He was a Group 1 winner at Saint-Cloud three starts ago, but when it's come to the highest level he's often disappointed, and it's hard to see him playing any sort of role here.
4. Tarnawa - C Soumillon - D Weld (3)
A real top-class mare, Tarnawa is hoping to hand legendary trainer Dermot Weld a first win in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. She was last seen running in an epic renewal of the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, where she was just narrowly denied by the first-rate Aidan O'Brien-trained three-year-old St Mark's Basilica. That is rock-solid Group 1 form, and she showed when storming to Prix de l'Opera glory 12 months ago at Longchamp that she is a real class act on her day, and she has to be a major player here.
5. Love - F Dettori - A O'Brien (4)
The second of the O'Brien triumvirate, Love was a revelation as a three-year-old as she grabbed dual Classic glory with wins in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Oaks at Epsom. However, the four-year-old daughter of Galileo has failed to replicate those sort of displays in her four-year-old campaign, as having won the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot narrowly, she was then beaten by Adayar in the King George before coming third in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York. Unable to return to winning ways in the Blandford Stakes last time out, Love has to recapture her old form to stand any chance here.
6. Raabihah - C Demuro - J-C Rouget (15)
A four-and-a-quarter length fifth in the Arc 12 months ago, Jean-Claude Rouget's Raabihah will hope to improve when lining up in the Longchamp showpiece for the second time. She failed to get her head in front in her first three starts this season, as she racked up a trio of second placed finishes, but she found the winning thread last time out when bounding to victory in a Group 2 at Deauville. This is a lot tougher, but she will benefit for the experience of last year, and could shock a few of the more fancied rivals.
7. Chrono Genesis - O Murphy - T Saito (14)
Arguably the premier contender for Japan, Chrono Genesis has amassed a flurry of Group 1 prizes during her glittering career, and the Takashi Saito-trained runner will look to add another top prize on Sunday, and will have the services of top Irish rider Oisin Murphy. A smart second to Juddmonte International winner Mishriff in the Dubai Sheema Classic, she returned to winning ways on her last start when winning the Group 1 Takarazuka Kinen for the second year on the bounce. A leading contender if she can act on the likely rain-softened ground.
8. Mojo Star - R Ryan - R Hannon (1)
Sent off a 50/1 chance for the Derby at Epsom earlier in the season, Richard Hannon's Mojo Star ran a mighty race to finish second to Adayar. He followed that up with a decent fifth placed finish behind Hurricane Lane in the Irish Derby, and finally got off the mark when winning a Newbury maiden two starts ago. Was last seen chasing home Hurricane Lane in the St Leger at Doncaster, and that second placed finish is decent form, but ultimately he looks to have it all to do here, but could be a popular choice among each-way backers at huge odds.
9. Baby Rider - I Mendizabal - P Bary (13)
One of the representatives for the home brigade, Baby Rider will likely go off nearly three figures in the betting, and it's hard to see the three-year-old landing any sort of blow. A Group 2 winner at Saint-Cloud in May, the Gleneagles colt has failed to kick on from that effort and was well beaten by Hurricane Lane in the Grand Prix de Paris. Last seen being beaten by Bubble Gift in the Group 2 Prix Niel, Baby Rider will look to turn that form around here, but if he were to do that he would struggle to get the better of Hurricane Lane and a few others here.
10. Adayar - W Buick - C Appleby (11)
A magnificent four-and-a-half length winner of the Derby at Epsom earlier in the season, Charlie Appleby's Adayar built on that epic Classic victory by downing some top-class rivals in the Group 1 King George at Ascot. Downing subsequent Juddmonte International winner Mishriff with relative ease, the Godolphin raider shaped like a really special three-year-old, and if he can emulate either of his Epsom or Ascot runs then he has to be a huge player here, and it's hard to see him not making the frame at the very least.
11. Hurricane Lane - J Doyle - C Appleby (2)
A fine winner of the Dante Stakes at York, Hurricane Lane then went on to Epsom for the Derby, but he could only finish third to stablemate Adayar. He then improved immeasurably when storming to victory in the Irish Derby and the Grand Prix de Paris. Stepped up in trip for his latest start, Hurricane Lane was a facile winner of the St Leger at Doncaster, so he will head to Longchamp bidding for a fourth win on the bounce. There's no doubt he oozes class, but he has form to find with Derby winner Adayar, and while his stamina strengths will aid his chances, he will have to hope they go a fierce gallop from the outset to show his best work.
12. Sealiway - F Blondel - C Rossi (10)
Impressed last season at this meeting when winning the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, but he's failed to get his head in front since and the French raider will need a huge career best to play a notable role here. Having contested in two Classics this season, Sealiway has found St Mark's Basilica too good in both the French 2000 Guineas and French Derby, but having finished eighth in the Guineas, he put up a bold effort when second in the French Derby, so a repeat of that run could see him ruffle a few feathers here.
13. Alenquer - T Marquand - W Haggas (8)
Alenquer has a significant scalp on his CV as the William Haggas-trained raider beat Adayar in the Classic Trial at Sandown Park earlier in the season, and he followed that success up with a Group 2 win in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot. Sent to Longchamp for the Grand Prix de Paris, Alenquer finished a fine third to Hurricane Lane in that Group 1 effort, while he was an excellent second behind Mishriff in the Juddmonte International. A regular at the highest level, Alenquer is a real model of consistency and a double-figured odds could be a fly in the ointment of some fancied challengers.
14. Bubble Gift - G Mosse - M Delzangles (6)
A Group 2 winner at Longchamp earlier in the season, Bubble Gift was no match for Hurricane Lane when finishing sixth in the Grand Prix de Paris, and while the son of Nathaniel got the better of Baby Rider last time out, that form isn't top notch, so he has work to do in what looks a race that should prove too tough.
15. Snowfall - R Moore - A O'Brien (9)
A simply sensational three-year-old filly that bounded to a record breaking 16-length win in the Oaks at Epsom in June. Aidan O'Brien's starlet then lined up in the Irish Oaks, and duly demolished her rivals in similar fashion by claiming her second Classic by eight-and-a-half lengths. An easy winner of the Yorkshire Oaks on his penultimate start, Snowfall was a red-hot favourite for the Prix Vermeille, but she suffered a shock defeat to Teona, so she will need to bounce back here. She will benefit from a host of weight allowances here, and on her day she is a real class act, but that defeat last time out in France leaves a nagging doubt.
Predicted 1-2-3
- Adayar
- Tarnawa
- Alenquer