2022 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Day, ParisLongchamp

Bonjour… have we all caught our breath from yesterday yet?

Kyprios in splendid isolation after his devastating display in the Prix Du Cadran Image: Jack Williams / JTW Equine Images

I think it is safe to say that myself and Tom are still in awe over the quality of racing we saw yesterday. Sea La Rosa was brilliant in the Prix de Royallieu, Erevann was dominant in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein.

Sea La Rosa under a masterful ride from Tom Marquand Image: Tom Williams / JTW Equine Images

Erevann looks like the next big thing from the yard of Jean-Claude Rouget Image: Jack Williams / JTW Equine Images

THAT demolition from Kyprios. To be so far clear, jink all the way across to the stands side, and still win by 30 lengths. Absolutely unbelievable. However, the attention now turns to the big one; the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Months of trials, classics, hard luck stories and paths to the race, have been played out all season long. At around 4:08pm Paris time, we will probably know, depending on if they go off at the allocated time of 3:05pm UK time, which horse has written their name into the history books. Will it be last year’s winner Torquator Tasso, who has his ground again, but a wide draw to overcome? Will it be Alpinista, who beat Torquator Tasso in September 2021, and had trainer Sir Mark Prescott rueing the chance to run here last year; can she make amends and make it 3/3 this season? Or will one of the 3-year-olds run the show; will Vadeni see out the 1m 4f trip on soft ground, will Luxembourg confirm favouritism and give Aidan O’Brien another Arc (his first since Found in 2016) or will Do Deuce finally give Japan that elusive Arc winner; could it even be Titleholder for the Japanese team?

If any of the above want to win, the ground will be key. The draws have been made, the plans set out, but how the race develops will only be seen when the stalls open and the runners head out on their way around the quaint Boulogne scenery. Very soft is the official going, but it will surely be slightly softer than that, with showers forecast today, however we personally remain hopeful that they will fizzle out over the Channel before they reach the racecourse.

Looking at the other races, a few that take our fancy are The Antarctic in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, He’s a beautiful brother of Battaash, and whilst the trip is longer than his elder brother was finding fame at, he has run very admirably in his debut season, in some hot races where the form stacks up well (think Blackbeard in the Prix Morny and the Middle Park Stakes). If he isn’t slowly away like at Newmarket, he should be the one to beat.

In other races that we like the look of, Nashwa looks to be the one to beat in the Prix de l’Opera Longines at 4:50pm, although this John & Thady Gosden filly will have to shake off Epsom Oaks winner Tuesday, who showed heart to outbattle Emily Upjohn, and Above The Curve, who has course form after winning at 1m 2f in the Prix Saint-Alary in May. I think it is between these 3, with the home team spearheaded by La Parisienne, who missed the cut for the Arc earlier this week. At 5:25pm Paris time, it is the Prix de l’Abbaye, with morning support being for the Adrian Nicholls trained Tees Spirit, at the time of writing being 12-1. Bias unfortunately creeps in for this writer, who loves The Platinum Queen but also admires A Case Of You, last year’s winner, and the type of horse you just dream of owning. He’s a globetrotting, hard -working sort, who only rarely runs a bad race, and normally there are excuses. His stamina should come into play today, with the finish of the race being run on very soft, but the majority of the race being run on softer or better. If any of the above listed horse win, we shall be very happy!

The anticipation is building, and it is 2 hours until the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.

Paris, we are ready for your performances. Begin!