The Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe will be run today at 16h05 and sees a maximum field of 20 compete for glory and a first prize of £2,400,840 at ParisLongchamp.
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Irish trainer Aidan O’ Brien saddles the race favourite Luxembourg.
A colt by Derby hero Camelot, he has improved with each of his three starts this year culminating with victory in the Irish Champion Stakes earlier this month at the Curragh. In that race, he ran on well over the final two furlongs of that 10-furlong race to win readily by a half-length from French raider Onesto.
Favourite Luxembourg
Lightly raced, he should strip fitter on and should be involved in the finish. On breeding, the distance should not be a problem. Ryan Moore jumps him from a fair draw of eight and looks the one to beat.
The Japanese continue in their attempt to win this great race and have four chances for success this year.
Titleholder, unbeaten in three starts this season looks the most likely of the quintet and is a general 7/1 shot. The four-year-old colt has not raced since late June in Japan which does raise a few questions as to his current fitness. However, he has won when racing fresh in the past, but on very soft ground, he has it all to do.
The 5-year-old mare Alpinista is unbeaten in her last seven starts, which include 5 Group 1’s. A winner over the trip and on soft ground, the daughter of Frankel is the UK’s leading chance and is another not to be discounted in an open race.
However, a chance is taken with the runner-up in the Irish Champion Stakes, Onesto at around 12/1. Fabrice Chappet’s Chantilly yard are in good form and the Frankel colt won the Gr1 Grand Prix de Paris over today’s course and distance on soft ground prior to his clash with Luxembourg in Ireland. Lightly raced, he had subsequent St Leger winner Eldar Eldarov over 5-lengths behind him at Longchamp.
He should relish the conditions and with a strong pace, he could run them all out of it.
