 |
RacingBetter News |
| Thursday 22nd September 2022 | |
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Betting Preview
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe betting markets have once again gone into overdrive as the greatest middle-distance horses in Europe and beyond do battle at Longchamp.
Forget the rest, the Arc is simply the best race on the planet. Yet in addition to the majesty of watching the star thoroughbreds on the track, it also opens up a world of limitless options for those who love a bet on horse racing.
This year there is no one truly outstanding contender, which offers punters bigger Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe betting odds than has often been the case in recent years.
But who wins? Here, our team of horse racing betting experts assess the chances of the major contenders before nominating their best bets for the great race on October 2:
Luxembourg
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Owners: Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe betting odds: 15/4
The three-year-old son of Camelot was touted as the next big thing following his exhilarating success at Doncaster last autumn. But then plans had to be shelved after he sustained a nasty injury in the 2000 Guineas.
It was entirely predictable that Luxembourg made a sluggish return to the fray in August, but his victory in the Irish Champion Stakes was much more like it and should set him up a treat for the Arc. A textbook improver from the all-conquering Ballydoyle yard, he will be at his peak at Longchamp and seems destined to thrive for a step up in trip.
Alpinista
Trainer: Sir Mark Prescott
Owner: Kirsten Rausing
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe betting odds: 7/1
The five-year-old grey now officially belongs in the supermare category. She is now unbeaten in seven starts, five of which in Group One company. Alpinista has everything you need for an Arc runner. There are no stamina issues, nor are there any quibbles with the ground.
She has a turn of foot when it matters and yet she also has the stamina and resilience. The daughter of Frankel also gets weight from many of her rivals. This will be her toughest assignment by far, taking on some of the best colts in the world, but the suspicion remains that we have still not yet seen the best of her on a racecourse.
Titleholder
Trainer: Toru Kurita
Owners: Hiroshi Yamada
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe betting odds: 17/2
Japan’s obsession with trying to win the Arc has become the stuff of Turf folklore, but could this finally be their year? In the shape of Titleholder, they unquestionably have one of their best chances of glory for many a year.
The four-year-old son of Duramente has been imperious in his homeland, with his awesome Grade One triumph at Hanshin in June the high-water mark. What has impressed observers most about him is his ice-cold temperament, which will serve him very well indeed for the melting-pot atmosphere of Longchamp.
And having won over two miles earlier in the season, his supporters can rest easy in the knowledge that he will get the Arc trip doing proverbial handstands.
Torquator Tasso
Trainer: Marcel Weisse
Owner: Gestut Auenquelle
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe betting odds: 8/1
It might have sent shockwaves across the world of racing, but last year’s 72/1 victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe was no fluke as he ripped up the Longchamp straight before staying on for a stunning success for Germany.
Torquator Tasso’s form has since been a little unpredictable, but he ran a stormer in the King George at Ascot before finishing a slightly unlucky second in the Grosser Preis von Baden in early September.
The five-year-old son of Alderflug would appreciate another Arc contested in a quagmire, but this year’s renewal does not look as strong as the 2021 edition. He clearly comes alive at Longchamp so it would be folly to dismiss his claims of a famous double.
Adayar
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Owner: Godolphin
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe betting odds: 17/2
Last year’s Derby and King George hero has only been sighted once this season following a long-term injury, but the engine looked intact in that cakewalk success in a small race at Doncaster.
He is arguably the classiest horse in the line-up and was not beaten too far in last season’s Arc, when the bottomless ground proved his undoing late on. His excellent trainer would not have given this race a second thought if he did not believe Adayar was ready to prove to the world just how good he is.
Ignore him at your peril – especially if the ground is riding quicker (which seems likely) than last year.
Vadeni
Trainer: Jean-Claude Rouget
Owner: HH Aga Khan
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe betting odds: 9/1
Unquestionably the pick of the home team. It is a great pity that France is not better represented in this year’s Arc, but Vadeni nonetheless has the qualities to win the great race for Jean Claude-Rouget and the Aga Khan.
The three-year-old colt is a three-time Group One scorer this season and produced a career-best with a gutsy success in the Eclipse at Sandown. Much was expected of him in the Irish Champion Stakes, but he did not have the run of the race that day and could only finish third to Luxembourg.
There are a few stamina doubts, but he gets weight from his elders in the Arc and will be a danger to all if he stays the distance and avoids trouble in running.
Onesto
Trainer: Fabrice Chappet
Owner: Gerard Augustin-Normand
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe betting odds: 12/1
This season’s surprise Grand Prix de Paris winner obviously knows the Longchamp terrain well and proved that run was no misnomer by getting to within half a length of Luxembourg in the Irish Champion Stakes.
He was, however, beaten out of sight by Vadeni in the French Derby. He should have a good shout if that Irish Champion form is taken at face value, but he was all out in the Grand Prix de Paris and might get tapped for toe against these far superior thoroughbreds.
Westover
Trainer: Ralph Beckett
Owner: Juddmonte Farms Ltd
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe betting odds: 14/1
Having been so unlucky in the Derby at Epsom, the Frankel colt happily set the record straight with a jaw-dropping success in the Irish equivalent. He was, however, far too keen in the King George and was beaten some 18 lengths.
That run obviously invites all manner of questions, but he will have no problem with the ground or the trip and is a high-class animal from an operation that will forever be inextricably linked with the Arc. A long break since the King George might have done him the world of good, but he now has it all to prove.
La Parisienne
Trainers: Carlos & Yenn Lerner
Owners: Peter R Bradley III, Marc Leonetti
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe betting odds: 20/1
The three-year-old daughter of Zarak will hardly be known outside of her homeland, but she is a serious contender at a massive price. Beaten just a neck by Nashwa in the French Oaks, La Parisienne then produced a wonderful performance in adversity to finish third in renowned Arc trial, the Prix Vermeille. She was desperately unfortunate that day and yet only beaten a neck by Sweet Lady.
This is much tougher, of course, but she is a high-class filly and might have been undervalued in the markets given her relatively unheard-of connections. Fascinating contender.
The Verdict:
Luxembourg and Alpinista set the standard, but they do not represent value – especially the former. To that end, it might be worth keeping the faith with VADENI. A quality colt who will handle whatever Mother Nature throws at him, the home challenger rates a major player if he can take within his stride this step up to a mile and a half.
At an even bigger price, the unheralded LA PARISIENNE makes plenty of each-way appeal. In receipt of all sorts of allowances, she should be bang on the premises if she can replicate her eyecatching performance in the Prix Vermeille.
*Odds subject to change and were correct at the time of publication
18+. Please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org
SAFER GAMBLING MESSAGE.
SET LIMITS ON YOUR GAMBLING.
For support, contact the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or visit www.begambleaware.org. For more information please visit our Safer Gambling Page.
