Why Hurricane Lane has to defy history to win the Arc de Triomphe 2021

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change

Hurricane Lane has established himself as one of the best middle-distance horses on the block thanks to a haul of Group 1 victories – but history is against the Godolphin superstar heading into Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

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It’s been a cracking Classic campaign for the Frankel colt, who has only tasted defeat once in six starts. He won on seasonal reappearance in a Class 3 at Newbury in April and followed up in the Dante Stakes before placing third behind stablemate Adayar in the Epsom Derby despite losing his front shoes. A thrilling Irish Derby was added to his CV before romping to success in the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp.

Hurricane Lane was last seen on track comfortably winning the St Leger by 2¾l from Mojo Star to take his prize money haul towards the £1.5m mark. The romp at Doncaster confirmed his status as one of the stars of the Flat game and increased hopes he would head back to Longchamp for a crack at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – the most prestigious race in Europe.

Godolphin have not had a winner in the contest since 2002 but are set to boast a twin attack on this year’s renewal after trainer Charlie Appleby confirmed it was all systems go for Hurricane Lane to join Adayar in Paris.

“After discussions after the gallops yesterday, we’re very confident that if we have a good week this week, we have two horses going to the Arc in great shape,” Appleby said.

“We’re excited, with this being the 100th Arc, having two colts going into it with the profiles they have.

“Adayar, an impressive Derby winner, who went on to win the King George, and Hurricane Lane, who could create history by winning the St Leger and the Arc, something that hasn’t been done (in the same year).”

It’s that final line from Appleby that leaves a question mark hanging over Hurricane Lane from a punting perspective. No St Leger winner in history has gone on to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in the same year – a feat that even the incredible Triple Crown winner Nijinsky failed to achieve in 1970.

It has been argued that the exertions of the 1m 6f St Leger weeks before the Longchamp blockbuster can prove too much for horses, especially if it has been a busy campaign running in top-level races. Hurricane Lane, however, has a tick in his column having won over course and distance in the Grand Prix de Paris back in July on his favoured softer ground.

With rain forecast to fall before the 2021 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe runners and riders go to post at 3.05pm on Sunday October 3, Hurricane Lane’s connections will certainly be hoping their boy can whip up a storm on track once again…

Hurricane-Lane-wins-Irish-Derby at the Curragh