As we approach the business end of this thrilling flat racing season, with the prestigious season curtain dropper, British Champions Day, on the horizon at Ascot, attention is starting to turn towards the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Held at Longchamp in Paris, ‘the Arc’, as it’s commonly known, is the richest race in Europe and owners from all over the world will be sending their horses to the French capital for a slice of the €5m prize purse.
With David Menuisier’s multiple Group 1 winner Wonderful Tonight, who was the favourite with the best horse racing betting sites to win the one mile and four-furlong race, recently suffering a career-ending injury, the historic contest now looks to be a two-horse race, with a couple of British and Irish-trained leading the way in the betting market.
So, without further ado, read on as we take a look at the favourites for the 2021 renewal of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe…
Tarnawa – 10/3
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Dermot Weld may be one of Ireland’s most successful trainers, with major victories from all over the world, including the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp. However, he’s still on the hunt for that maiden Arc triumph, and this could the year. In Wonderful Tonight’s absence, Tarnawa is the new favourite, and, after winning the Prix Vermeille and the Prix de l’Opera last year, she has the know-how when it comes to the Paris course. Raced just twice so far this season, the five-year-old won the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown, but was beaten by St Mark’s Basilica at the Dublin course in the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes last time out. Tarnawa won’t feature again until the Arc, so it will be interesting to see if she can bounce back in Paris.
Hurricane Lane – 5/1
Charlie Appleby’s Hurricane Lane has had a fantastic first full flat season this year, with the only blemish on his race record coming in the Derby at Epsom, where he still managed a respectable third-placed finish. The three-year-old’s biggest victories include, the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York, the Group 1 Irish Derby at the Curragh, the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp, and most recently, the historic St Leger Stakes at Doncaster. Those are some very prestigious victories, and at odds of around 5/1, we’re sure that Hurricane Lane will get a lot of backing from the punters ahead of the Arc, especially after already bagging a big win at Longchamp this season.
Chrono Genesis – 12/1
Yet to race on European turf, it’s hard to know what to expect from Chrono Genesis at Longchamp. The Japanese Thoroughbred has largely only been seen on home soil, with just one race outside of Japan, the Sheema Classic at Meydan in the United Arab Emirates — where she came second to John Gosden’s Mishriff. That’s not to take anything away from the Takashi Saito-trained horse though, as the five-year-old is one of the best horses in Japan, with victories in the Shūka Sho, the Takarazuka Kinen and the Arima Kinen to name just a few of her biggest triumphs.
Mishriff – 12/1
Already briefly mentioned, Mishriff had a great start to the season in the UAE, winning the Saudi Cup at Riyadh before beating Chrono Genesis over the line by a neck in the Sheema Classic. However, the Gosden horse wasn’t as spectacular on his return to England, finishing third in the Sandown Eclipse before coming home in second in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Ascot. A win in the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York last month has put him back on the right track, so rule him out at your own peril.
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Aidan O’Brien’s St Mark’s Basilica (12/1), who has four Group 1 victories from as many races this season, including at Longchamp and Chantilly, deserves a mention and will surely get a fair bit of backing in the betting market at odds of around 12/1.
