Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Tips: Love profile

Steve Chambers profiles Love, who has already won the 1000 Guineas and Oaks this season, and is a leading contender for the 2020 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe...

Love

• Age: 3
• Races: 10
• Wins: 6
• Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
• Jockey: Ryan Moore
• Owner: Mr M Tabor, D Smith, Mrs John Magnier
• Notable Race Wins: Moyglare Stud Stakes (2019), 1000 Guineas (2020), Epsom Oaks (2020), Yorkshire Oaks (2020)

Career Record

Aidan O'Brien will bid for a third Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe victory on October 4, and the master of Ballydoyle will unleash a strong battalion spearheaded by the dual Classic-winning filly Love, who heads to Longchamp as the favourite for Europe's most prestigious Flat race.

A smart juvenile, who recorded a fine victory in the 2019 Moyglare Stud Stakes, Love has well and truly blossomed as a three-year-old and produced a scintillating performance on her first run of 2020 as she was an emphatic winner of the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. Travelling smoothly in the fillies' classic, the daughter of Galileo produced a blistering turn of foot to pull comfortably clear of her rivals, and she went on to land Group 1 glory by four and a half lengths.

While her Guineas victory was eye-catching, it was her dominant success in the Oaks at Epsom Downs that catapulted her into the Arc reckoning, as she blitzed her rivals in imperious fashion to make it back-to-back classic wins. Relishing the step up to 1m 4f in the Oaks, Love yet again travelled serenely through the contest and then scooted clear of her rivals on the bridle, and went on to win eventually by nine lengths, with stablemate Ennistymon back in second position.

Having launched herself towards the upper echelons of the Arc betting following her impressive wins at Newmarket and Epsom, Love warmed up for the Paris showpiece with an outing in the Yorkshire Oaks at York in August. Sent off an odds-on favourite, Love was never troubled by her inferior rivals, as she went on to claim glory by five lengths and duly notch up her third Group 1 win a stellar season.

Following on her impressive performance on the Knavesmire, O'Brien's starlet was instantly made favourite for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, where she will look to emulate her main rival Enable, who claimed Arc glory as a three-year-old in 2017. Arguably, the biggest talking point of the 2020 Flat season, Love will head to the French capital in top notch form, and she is sure to be a major player in what is a fascinating renewal of the Longchamp contest.

Positives

Class: Being a three-time Group 1 winner this season doesn't paint the whole picture with Love, as it's been the manner of her victories that have propelled her into the Arc picture. Hugely dominant victories in both the 1000 Guineas and Oaks have shown that she is the class act in the three-year-old division this season, and having downed her elders in the Yorkshire Oaks she showed she is a real top-class performer. 

Weight Advantage: Three-year-old fillies can benefit from a significant weight pull from their older, male rivals in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and Love could well capitalise on that fact. With the boys aged four and over set to carry 9 st 5 lb, Love will only have the burden of 8 st 9 lb on her back, and with the Arc often won by small margins, that extra weight advantage could be the notable factor to push her to glory in Paris.

Relish The Trip: Love's career best display came in the Oaks at Epsom over 1m 4f, so the Arc trip over the same distance should see her produce her a-game once again, and if she can maintain a decent, prominent position through the early stages of the race then she can unleash her rip-snorting turn of pace to possibly propel to the lead, where she will look to fend off her rivals in the closing stages.

Negatives

Ground: It can often turn very soft at Longchamp with the Arc taking place in Autumn. While Love has some winning form on Good, Good to Soft in places, the Ballydoyle raider is yet to be tested much on real rain-softened conditions, so she will be heading into new territory if the rain falls heavily in the lead-up to the race. 

How will Love fare in the 2020 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe?

It's hard to not be impressed with the way Love has delivered on the biggest stage this season, but the wonder filly will face her stiffest test in early October when she takes on the likes of Enable and others in the Arc. A prominent figure in the betting, Love is a hugely exciting contender, and if she can continue her progression on the track then it's hard to see her out of the frame. Her Oaks victory was something special, and a repeat of that display in France should see her claim Arc glory and end the season in spectacular fashion.

Verdict: One to beat