Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe runner-by-runner guide to 2021 race at Longchamp

The inside track on the 15-runner field for Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

By / Horse Racing Tips / 3 years ago

*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

Tarnawa

Dermot Weld’s mare marked herself down as a serious contender for this year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe after an impressive course and distance win in the Prix de l’Opera Longines last season. Her subsequent Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf win over Magical cemented her claim for Europe’s richest prize and a narrow defeat to St Mark’s Basilica (met with interference in running) did nothing to dim that view in the 1m 2f Irish Champion Stakes. Christophe Soumillon regains the ride, she’s been given what is usually a decent draw in stall 3 and looks a leading player as she tries to end the 84-year hoodoo of a five-year-old mare winning this prestigious prize.

NEW TO PADDY POWER?

Adayar

William Buick will ride this year’s Epsom Derby and King George VI winner who was supplemented on Wednesday for a cool €120,000. He pulled very hard at Ascot and will need to curb that tendency to make sure he has enough petrol in the tanks for the finishing kick at Longchamp, but on his summer form is a leading player despite a slight setback in his preparation. The draw in stall 11 could have been kinder and will hope the ground doesn’t get too soft.

DON’T MISS

  • CHECK OUT OUR BRAND NEW SNAZZY RACECARDS FOR EVERY SINGLE RACE TODAY
  • … THEN GET ALL THE WINNERS BEFORE ANYONE ELSE WITH OUR FAST RESULTS

Snowfall

Another supplemented for €120,000 last Wednesday, Aidan O’Brien’s English and Irish Oaks heroine drifted in the betting after shock defeat by Teona over course and distance last time, despite being unbeaten this season until that point. Frankie Dettori blamed himself for that loss and maintains she is still the better filly. The ground will be much softer than a fortnight ago and that will suit as her runaway win in the Epsom Oaks proved. The fillies’ sex allowance and three-year-old weight-for-age concession could be key as seven of the last 10 Prix de l’Arc winners have been fillies. A major player under Ryan Moore and may have options from stall 9.

Hurricane Lane

A dual Classic winner this season, adding the Doncaster St Leger last month to his Irish Derby win at the Curragh earlier in the summer. James Doyle now rides as William Buick sticks with Epsom Derby conqueror Adayar, who looks to have a little more speed than his stablemate. An English St Leger winner has yet to taste victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe but Hurricane Lane’s proven stamina will be a big positive at the end when others have cried enough. Stall 2 could help.

Chrono Genesis

Reigning British champion jockey Oisin Murphy has been booked to ride the Japanese filly for months now as they look for their first winner in Europe’s most prestigious race. The daughter of 2004 winner Bago will be Murphy’s first ride in the race and her first start on European soil. A 98-day gap between races is a deliberate plan, but would also be a first for an Arc winner. A box position of 14 hasn’t been kind to her.

Deep Bond

Another Japanese raider who has tuned up for this with a victory in Germany and last time out a one-and-a-half-length win over Broome in the Grade One Qatar Prix Foy over course and distance on good ground. A relentless galloper but may need a little more in his locker against some stiff opposition come Arc day. Splits Love and Bubble in the 5 box.

Love – declared a non runner on Sunday morning

Last season’s standout filly after two Classic wins in the 1,000 Guineas and Epsom Oaks – Love’s bubble has been burst this term despite a winning reappearance at Royal Ascot. Needs to rediscover her old sparkle to match the other Irish fillies in Tarnawa and stablemate Snowfall, but stall 4 under Frankie Dettori gives her a fighting chance.

Alenquer

Sprang a 25/1 surprise when beating the subsequent Epsom Derby winner Adayar (Yibir back in third) at Sandown before winning the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot in July on heavy ground. Was a seven-length third to Hurricane Lane at Longchamp on similar going later that same month but was just a little tapped for toe over 1m 2f at York when well beaten by Mishraff. Capable of being on the premises at the business end from stall 8.

Raabihah

A beaten favourite when Tarnawa won the Group 1 Qatar Prix Vermeille in 2020, Jean-Claude Roughet’s mare ran a respectable fifth to Sottsass in the big one a few weeks later. Was impressive when winning a Group 2 in August at Deauville but has a three-length gap to close with Tarnawa on their last running and drawn widest of all in stall 15 could mean she’s destined for the places at best.

Sealiway

Has seen the rear end of St Mark’s Basilica on his last two starts – most recently when a big-priced runner-up in the Prix du Jockey Club over 1m 2f. Tackles 1m 4f for the first time but needs a career best to figure and all the luck in the world from stall 10.

Baby Rider

Pascal Bary’s three-year-old was fifth when well behind the winner Hurricane Lane (Alenquer third and Bubble Gift sixth) in July’s Prix de Paris over course and distance. Finished a nose second to Bubble Gift at this track in the Prix Niel a few weeks back, but stall 13 mightn’t help him overturn that result.

Broome

Has been a model of consistency this season and eventually got that elusive Group 1 win at Saint Cloud in July. However, he’s likely to fall a little short against the top Grade 1 performers on show now under Yutaka Take in box 7.

Bubble Gift

Closely matched with Baby Rider on their encounters this season and the pair should be among the best of the home-trained brigade. Gerald Mosse knows what it’s like to win the Arc having been successful on Saumarez in 1990, but will Bubble Gift get the same thrill from stall 6?

Mojo Star

Filled the runner-up position in both the Epsom Derby and St Leger and split those performances by winning his maiden at Newbury in mid-August. A tremendous money spinner for connections, who might just have another roll of the dice in him for some place money at least from the lowest draw of all in stall 1.

Torquator Tasso

The German raider pitches up here on the back of a Group 1 win at Baden-Baden having been beaten by Sir Mark Prescott’s Alpinista in the German Derby. Alpinista wouldn’t trouble those at the head of the market and neither should Torquator Tasso from stall 12.

Verdict: The season’s Classic crop usually finish close to the front and should do so again in the absence of a strong home defence. Tarnawa seems to have everything in her favour bar being the likely race-day favourite (only two winners in the last 10 renewals) and being a five-year-old mare (be the first winner in 84 years).

The running style of Adayar could make him vulnerable if he uses up too much energy too quickly and a double-digit draw in 11 doesn’t help. Hurricane Lane has to defy history to become the first St English Leger winner of this great race, so that just leaves dual Classic winner Snowfall to right the wrong of her shock defeat and deliver on the biggest stage of all come Sunday.

Read More on the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe 2021

Read

The latest racing odds are on PaddyPower.com now

The Paddy Power Guide To Responsible Gambling – Everything You Need To Know

What do you think?