The 2010 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday afternoon looks set to be one of the closest run renewals of the race in recent years with several of the 22 declared runners holding claims of glory in Europe's most valuable Flat Race with bookmakers offering 7/2 the field in the latest betting. It's a far cry from 12 months ago when Sea the Stars won the race as odds on favourite, making it six Group One victories for the season and laying claim to being one of the greatest horses of all time.
Whilst none of those taking their chance on Sunday matches the profile of Sea the Stars, connections of many of these runners will be hopeful that they can enter the history books and scoop a slice of the £6,000,000 prize, £2 million of which goes to the winning horse!
The French trained Behkabad heads the current Arc odds after back to back course and distance successes at Longchamp, landing the Group One, Grand Prix de Paris, in July and the Prix Niel last month. Rail Link was the last horse to complete the same double at the Paris track en route to completing the hat-trick in the 2006 Arc de Triomph and Behkabad's trainer, Jean-Claude Rouget, will be hoping for his first win in the race from a horse whose form to date is worthy of favouritism but is by no means a good thing.
Planteur, who has finished runner up to Behkabad on his last two starts heads a number of horses on the tails of the favourite but there is little evidence to suggest why the Elie Lellouche trained runner should reverse placings with the jolly and it is the raiders from across the English Channel who look to pose the bigger threat.
Derby winner, Workforce, was the long time antepost favourite for the Arc following his record breaking win at Epsom, touching 3/1 in the betting with William Hill. However, a disappointing effort in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes last time out at Ascot saw his odds drift to as big as 16/1 with fears that the Sir Michael Stoute trained Colt was injured. Positive noises from his yard in recent weeks about his well being has seen Workforce come in for some good support in the market and it would be no surprise to see him put in another Derby winning effort but backing him really is a case of relying on word of mouth and at the current odds, the value may well have gone.
Fame and Glory is the pick of Aidan O'Brien's stable jockey Johnny Murtagh and as such, is sure to be well backed. Second favourite to Sea the Stars in this race last year before finishing 6th left many people questioning whether he was as good as people first thought but a sequence of four consecutive wins this season sees him head to Longchamp in better form than this time last year but at the age of four, he must not only prove he can handle the course but also that he can see off the younger rivals who have a strong record in the race. Three year olds account for 15 of the last 20 Arc winners and it may once again pay to side with those horses receiving a weight allowance and open to more improvement.
One three year who looks a cracking bet at a stand out 12/1 with William Hill is Fame and Glory's Ballydoyle stablemate, Cape Blanco. This son of Galileo has two Group One victories to his name this season in the form of the Irish Derby and Irish Champion Stakes, he has also finished ahead of Workforce on the two occasions that they have met and the only blip in his form came in the French Derby, for which excuses can be made. Two times Arc de Triomphe winning jockey Christophe Soumillon takes the ride and on official ratings, Cape Blanco holds is in with a great chance and an each way bet looks the way to go.
Of the other runners, Sarafina will be bidding to become only the third filly in thirty years to win the race and the same connections (Alain De Royer-Dupre and the Aga Khan) that saw Zarkava romp to victory in 2008 will be hoping for a repeat performance with this filly getting weight all round from her male rivals.
Youmzain is also sure to be a popular selection having finished third in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for the past three years and at 14/1 makes a plenty of each way appeal but age could now be against the Mick Channon seven year old but it would be a great send off if he could once again make the frame in what is sure to be his final appearance at Longchamp.
A wide open race which sees several runners boasting realistic chances. There's not much between any of the principles in the betting on known form and Cape Blanco looks like the value pick.
Recommended Bet: Cape Blanco e/w @ 12/1 with William Hill
Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe Odds
7/2 Behkabad
5/1 Workforce
5/1 Fame And Glory
6/1 Planteur
8/1 Sarafina
10/1 Youmzain
12/1 Cape Blanco*
16/1 Cavalryman
20/1 Plumania
25/1 Lope De Vega
25/1 Nakayama Festa
33/1 Duncan
40/1 Marinous
50/1 Victoire Pisa
66/1 Midas Touch
66/1 Timos
100/1 Pouvoir Absolu
100/1 Wiener Walzer
150/1 Liang Kay
500/1 Tullamore
Odds supplied by Williamhill.com.
Posted: Saturday, 2nd October 2010
Author: Tony Smith
Tags: arc de triomphe, longchamp, cape blanco, bekhabad, william hill,
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