G1 – 2400m – Turf
Horse Racing
Season
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe – Form Comments
| 1 | Defoe | Developed rapidly from a handicapper to a Group class horse last season and he won a G2 over this distance at Newmarket in May 2018. He almost landed a G1 at Baden Baden on his latest start – finishing with a flourish. This is a much stronger G1. |
| 2 | Salouen | Has won just two of his 20 starts but his owner is determined at an Arc challenge and Salouen did almost manage an all-the-way G1 win over 2405m at Epsom in June – just nailed by Cracksman late on. Tough and consistent but surely not good enough for victory. |
| 3 | Capri | Has G1 winning form over this distance and further but he only beat one horse home in last year’s Arc – at Chantilly. Has raced just twice this year and didn’t look fully fit when fifth of six in a G2 Arc trial here last month. The expected strong pace may help. |
| 4 | Way To Paris | Has finished second, third and fourth behind Waldgeist in three of his last four starts. He finished 3 ½ lengths behind that rival in a G2 Arc trial at Longchamp last time, a respectable effort considering he was slowly away and always under pressure. |
| 5 | Waldgeist | A G1 win at two fuelled high expectations which he largely failed to fulfill in 2017. However he has found the winning habit in style in 2018 and showed battling qualities to land a G1 at Saint-Cloud in July and most impressive when winning a G2 Arc trial at Longchamp last month – both at this trip. Versatile groundwise and tactically. |
| 6 | Cloth Of Stars | Unfancied for last year’s Arc but he still managed to finish second to Enable. Hasn’t managed a win in six starts this year but did best last time when third to stablemate Waldgeist in a G2 Arc trial here, finishing strongly. Enjoys the hustle and bustle of a big field, likely here. |
| 7 | Talismanic | Predicted fast ground will suit Talismanic who scooted around the tight bends at Del Mar to win a G1 on those conditions over this distance last November, also running a good second in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin last December. Second in a G2 Arc trial at Longchamp last month though no threat to winner Waldgeist. |
| 8 | Tiberian | Had a very good spell in France last year with four wins – at up to G2 level – at this distance and a bit further. However he’s often been disappointing since and soft ground may provide his only chance of making any impact. Tends to make his move late. |
| 9 | Clincher | Has some strong form in Japan though mostly over a longer distance than this and when the ground was slow. He led on his French debut in a G2 Arc trial last month but could never dominate and was swept aside by some Arc rivals in the last 200m. |
| 10 | Enable | An astonishing filly who gained her fifth consecutive G1 victory when demolishing 17 rivals in last year’s Arc (run at Chantilly). She missed four months training earlier this year but wowed her supporters with her winning return in a G3 on the all-weather at Kempton last month. Sure to start favourite and usual tactics suggest she’ll be pushed close to the early speed. Hard to beat. |
| 11 | Neufbosc | Twice a winner over this course and distance – including at G3 level – earlier in 2018. Following a second to Kew Gardens in a G1 at Longchamp in July he had a break before a disappointing G2 effort – when hot favourite – here last month. Likely to be fitter now, but hard to fancy. |
| 12 | Patascoy | Career highlight was his second at long odds in June’s G1 French Derby (2100m) at Chantilly, finishing well past fading rivals. Ran a respectable second in a Deauville G2 in August. Tries 2400m for the first time. |
| 13 | Kew Gardens | A dismal performance in the Derby at Epsom in June seems to have been a one-off, with a collection of other excellent efforts including a G1 victory over this course and distance in July. Won another G1 (a UK Classic race) over further than this at Doncaster last month. Fast ground and a frantic gallop would be ideal. |
| 14 | Study Of Man | Winner of three of his six starts, by far the most significant being his brave victory in the French Derby at Chantilly (2100m) in June. However subsequent events suggest that form was not strong, and his last two starts have also disappointed. Stamina worries at this distance. |
| 15 | Louis D’Or | Only ¾ lengths off a huge shock win when stepping up to 2100m for the G1 French Derby at Chantilly in June, finishing strongly though never quite looking like winning. That run stands out like a beacon however and he’s been soundly beaten the last twice. |
| 16 | Hunting Horn | Always prominent when a G3 winner over shorter than this at Royal Ascot in June. He’s got the stamina for this trip and was only beaten a short-head in a G2 Arc trial at Longchamp last month. As a trial that race was not as strong as usual, however. |
| 17 | Nelson | Has twice won at a G3 level. However he has finished behind stablemate and today’s rival Kew Gardens many times and is surely being used in a pacemaking capacity as seems to have been the case recently. |
| 18 | Magical | A classy two-year-old who has had training problems this year with lengthy gaps between her last four races. However she did look good when leading throughout in a 1800m G2 on fast ground at The Curragh in July. Stamina to prove. |
| 19 | Sea Of Class | Has raced just five times but her ascent has been dramatic. Few races in Europe during 2018 has caused such excitement as her last-to-first victory surge in the G1 Irish Oaks at The Curragh in July, before another devastating G1 victory – also at this distance – at York in August. Fast ground seems ideal. |
Others
05/10/2018
05/10/2018
05/10/2018
