The horse racing broadcaster runs via your complete Arc discipline and selects his prime 5 for Sunday’s large race at Longchamp.
Right here is my runner-by-runner information to Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, together with my predicted prime 5.
1. GIAVELOTTO – Downed Kalpana within the September Stakes. Andrea Atzeni flies in from Hong Kong to resume their affiliation from 2023, however Giavelotto has been usually discovered wanting at this stage and horses older than 5 have a poor document within the Arc. Any rain could be a unfavourable. **
2. WHITE BIRCH – Third within the 2023 Derby and gained revenge over Auguste Rodin within the 2024 Tattersalls Gold Cup. Flippantly campaigned since then, and twice behind Los Angeles this season. Returns to 1m 4f for the primary time in almost two years. Any rain would go well with. **
3. ARROW EAGLE – Gained 4 of his 5 races this season however was properly held behind Byzantine Dream within the Foy and has drawn badly in 16. It might be an enormous shock if he figured. *
4. SOSIE – Fourth final yr and has two successes at Group 1 stage this season. Effectively drawn in stall 3 and located the bottom too fast within the Eclipse. His second to Byzantine Dream within the Prix Foy ought to have put him spot on for this, representing grasp coach Andre Fabre who has received the race eight instances. *****
5. LOS ANGELES – One place forward of Sosie when third final yr, however two locations behind him within the Foy and connections attain for cheekpieces. Stall 14 makes it harder, and with Ryan Moore nonetheless on the sideline he has rather more to do that time round. **
6. BYZANTINE DREAM – Bidding to finish the Japanese hoodoo within the Arc and had a number of of the sphere behind him within the Prix Foy, elevating a nation’s expectations. He has, nonetheless, not been fortunate with the attract stall 15 and it’ll want an ingenious trip from Oisin Murphy to beat that unfavourable. Would additionally not need rain. ***
7. ESTRANGE – Non-runner.
8. QUISISANA – A late bloomer who has been higher than ever this yr, touchdown her first Group 1 final time within the Romanet. Nevertheless, away from her personal intercourse and in a a lot deeper race it’ll take one other main step ahead to be concerned. **
9. KALPANA – Cheekpieces are utilized after a shock defeat by Giavelotto within the September Stakes, which the identical connections used because the prep race for Allow. Rain will improve her possibilities and her King George second to Calandagan is a prime stage piece of kind, however anticipate her to come back up quick from stall 10. ***
10. AVENTURE– Runner-up final yr to Bluestocking and her solely defeat this season got here by the hands of Calandagan within the Grand Prix De Saint-Cloud. Winner of the Vermeille from Gezora, however drawing stall 12 complicates issues for a number of French Champion Maxime Guyon, nonetheless ready to land his first Arc. ****
11. DARYZ – The primary of the seven three-year-olds, he sports activities the well-known Aga Khan silks and had proven regular progress, which persuaded connections to complement him for the Juddmonte Worldwide. He discovered issues an excessive amount of on that event, and a greater effort final time behind Croix Du Nord nonetheless leaves him needing extra to determine regardless of drawing properly in stall 2. ***
12. LEFFARD – Has drawn fortunate stall 6, which has offered six winners within the final 30 years, however that statistical quirk isn’t sufficient to warrant any improve right here having been properly crushed within the Niel behind Cualificar. He did win the Grand Prix De Paris, however that appeared a modest renewal. **
13. CUALIFICAR – Second within the French Derby over 10f, he received the Niel on trials day, overcoming hassle to rise up shut dwelling. He represents Godolphin, so has the help of William Buick and is one other runner for Andre Fabre, whose first winner of the race – Trempolino again in 1987 – had additionally completed runner-up within the French Derby. ***
14. HOTAZHELL – Beat Delacroix within the mud at Doncaster within the Futurity on the finish of his two-year-old season, however has struggled like plenty of his yard to search out his kind this marketing campaign. Any rain could be welcome, and Jessie Harrington has been again among the many winners in latest days and has the potential to enhance at 12f. Drawn vast sufficient in 11 however might outrun his odds if the rain arrives. ****
15. CROIX DU NORD – House Derby winner and one in every of two Japanese three-year-olds. Beat Daryz within the Prince D’Orange, however that race has not thrown up the winner of the Arc since Saumarez in 1990. Coupled with drawing out within the automotive park in stall 17, he’ll want an ingenious trip to offer Japan that elusive Arc. ***
16. ALOHA ALII – Rounds off the three-pronged problem from Japan. Behind Croix Du Nord of their 2000 Guineas, he’s by far the perfect drawn of the Japanese trio and has additionally confirmed he handles delicate floor along with his win within the D’Ornano. The concern is whether or not he has the required class and may see out the 12f, however there are few higher riders on this planet than Christophe Lemaire. Harmful if allowed a delicate time up entrance. ****
17. MINNIE HAUK – This yr’s Basic winners have largely proved forgettable, however she comes right here with an unblemished document this yr together with wins within the UK and Irish Oaks in gritty vogue. Seemed to point out extra pace at York when beating Estrange, although the latter did look a bit uncomfortable on the quick floor that day. The priority is whether or not she can be used up a bit early to get a place from stall 1, and Aidan O’Brien has not received the Arc since 2016. ****
18. GEZORA – A second three-year-old filly who has an Oaks success to her title, profitable the Prix De Diane in June. Off since till the Vermeille when she completed second to Aventure, she ought to strip fitter right here however was fairly comfortably crushed and the suspicion stays that the French Classics are usually not sturdy. ***
Predicted prime 5:
1. Sosie
2. Aventure
3. Minnie Hauk
4. Aloha Alii
5. Hotazhell