Longchamp Tips: Saturday’s Best Bets At The Prix de l’Arc De Triomphe Meeting

This Saturday marks the opening day of the prestigious Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend at ParisLongchamp and William Hill News are here to guide you through the card.

While the main Arc event takes place on Sunday, Saturday features a massive undercard consisting of two Group 1 races and three Group 2 contests. There is also a feature race for two-year-olds only sponsored by the Arqana Series.

12.23 – 2m Prix Chaudenay (Group 2)

Amy Murphy’s VICTOIRE MAGIQUE (NB) put in a front-running performance under Cristian Demuro to land the Group 3 Prix Gérald de Geoffre over this exact trip and racecourse last time out, and can challenge the red-hot O’Brien favourite.

I can honestly see Demuro pinching this race straight from the flag-fall.

12.58 – 1m2f Prix Dollar (Group 2)

The George Scott-trained WIMBLEDON HAWKEYE brings significant Group 1 form into this Group 2 contest.

He ran a blinder to finish a close second behind top-class opposition in the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes, and in theory should be a notch above his rivals today.

2.50 – 1m Arqana Series Criterium d’Automne (2yo)

Trainer Jessica Harrington is no stranger to the winner’s circle at Longchamp and she appears to have targeted this race with BREATH OF PARADISE (NAP).

British champion jockey Oisin Murphy is preferred to Shane Foley, so connections must really feel they have got the best trump card today to land the spoils.

3.25 – 1m6f Prix de Royallieu (Group 1)

William Haggas’ three-year-old filly EARTH SHOT steps up significantly in class on Saturday, but her breeding suggests she can be an each-way player.

Sired by Time Test out of the Nathaniel mare, she should in theory excel with a stamina test like this. At around 12/1 in our horse racing betting, she can put up a bold show.

4.00 – 2m4f Prix du Cadran (Group 1)

Remember when Kyprios won this race for Aidan O’Brien? Well, SCANDINAVIA could well win by similar margins should things fall into place at the weekend.

The four-year-old is the best marathon stayer in training today and he is currently enjoying an unbeaten run of eight starts, that includes victories in the Ascot Gold Cup, the Goodwood Cup, and the Irish St Leger twenty days ago.

Odds of 2/5 in our sports betting says he clocks up nine on the bounce in Paris.

4.35 – 1m Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein (Group 2)

The Ralph Beckett-trained five-year-old QIRAT brings solid British group form to Longchamp and has got to be regarded as a solid each-way interest in this famous Group 2.

Having backed him myself, I was more than impressed by Qirat’s game third-place finish in the Group 2 Park Stakes at Doncaster on St Leger weekend. He kept running on to the line, despite coming under a spot of pressure late on, and I feel that sheer dogged determination will be his forte in the French capital.

*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*