The 2016 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe has a very different look to it for several reasons, not least because it’s to be run at Chantilly while Longchamp is being given a major overhaul, but the most startling observation at this particular juncture is that we have a five-year-old at the top of the betting.
The Roger Varian-trained Postponed has won his last six starts, the three most recent of which have come in Group One company by an aggregate distance of seven and three-quarter lengths, and he is the best horse entered on all known form.
Gr2 Dubai City of Gold – POSTPONED (photo: Andrew Watkins)
He’s done it at 10 furlongs and over the Arc trip of a mile and a half. He’s done it in France, he’s done it at Meydan and he’s done it on ground ranging from good to firm right through to soft.
He’s been kept fresh for the race since shrugging off doubts surrounding his well-being with victory over Highland Reel in the Juddmonte International at York’s Ebor Festival and the form figures of his last three runs following breaks of 60 days or more read 1-1-1, so the 46-day layoff shouldn’t be considered a negative.
Postponed is 100/30 at best and could arguably be a shade shorter, but everything we know about this great race tells us that the Classic generation have a huge advantage.
Mervin Gamble, Phumelela’s GM:Sports Betting advises that the standard bet types will be on offer on Sunday’s meeting.
Commingled:
Win
Place
Swinger
Exacta
Quinte+ (Race 3 and subject to change)
Local Pools:
Trifecta
Quartet
Pick 3 (last 3 races)
Jackpot (last 4 races)
PA (last 7 races)
Only 7 races are scheduled at this stage and subject to change
