Horse Racing Tips
Arc De Triomphe Main Contenders
The 2023 Flat season might be nearing its close, but the top-end competition is by no means slowing down, with all eyes looking toward the weekend and the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in France.
With £2.5m on offer to the winner, this race never fails to be a competitive spectacle, where the very best horses from the world over go head-to-head over the mile and a half trip.
Here we will discuss the chances of the main contenders in this year’s race, which promises to be an unmissable battle to the finish line.
Ace Impact
Jean-Claude Rouget’s three-year-old Cracksman colt only debuted this year, but has won each of his five starts, including the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly in June by an impressive three and a half lengths.
He has now won on good ground, heavy ground, from inside and outside draws, finding nothing a disadvantage, so he looks difficult to oppose in the Arc on that form.
There are, however, two unknowns for Ace Impact. Until now, he has only ever run against his own age-group and goes up against older horses for the very first time here, but has his weight-for-age allowance as a result. He also will go over a mile and a half for the first time, having gone over ten furlongs or ten and a half furlongs in all five starts so far. In answer to this, we can look to his sire, Cracksman, who stepped up to the same trip in top-level races with ease during his racing career.
Provided Ace Impact can stay the extra two furlongs, his chance should be obvious.
Hukum
Six-year-old Hukum has always been a talented individual, but has really come into his own in the last couple of years, stepping easily into Group 1 company and thriving.
Having won the Group 1 Coronation Cup last year, he was a most impressive winner of the Group 1 King George VI earlier this summer, beating a high-quality field home on good-to-soft ground.
The son of Sea The Stars is more than well-enough qualified over the trip, and should be suited by the likely-soft going at Longchamp.
Lightly raced over this summer and last, he will be fresh for the Arc, ready to deliver another textbook performance. He hasn’t often fallen victim to younger thrusters with weight allowances, and has only improved with age, so should have everything to play for.
Bet on the Arc at William Hill
Westover
Ralph Beckett’s ever-consistent Westover has only finished outside of the first three twice in 12 starts, the first instance of which was in this very race last year, when he finished a creditable sixth to Alpinista.
He is another who is versatile ground-wise, with wins on both softer and firmer going, and has run over a mile and half for his last eight starts, all in Group 1 races.
He tends to do his best work with an inside draw so, if given this at the Arc this year, he could also be difficult to beat.
Having last run in the King George VI, where he was beaten just a head by Hukum, he should also be fresh and ready for the Arc, and is bound to be competitive.
Continuous
Recently supplemented for the Arc after storming home to take the St. Leger by just under three lengths, three-year-old Continuous has taken a huge step forward in the latter stages of this season.
He has visited France before, finishing eighth behind Ace Impact in the 10 and a half furlong G1 Prix du Jockey Club, but has been far more impressive over longer trips since, winning the mile and a half Group 2 Great Voltigeur and, subsequently, the 14 and a half furlong St. Leger.
Capable of winning on both firm and soft ground, and receiving the three-year-olds’ weight allowance, Continuous could be a very serious challenger to the top favourites. Having last run only two weeks ago, however, fresher horses may be better off.
Feed The Flame
Another three-year-old, Feed The Flame, a son of Kingman, has been a picture of consistency this term, winning his debut and stepping into Group company shortly afterwards.
He was fourth behind Ace Impact in the Prix du Jockey Club, beaten just under seven lengths, but won the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris on his next outing, ahead of the likes of Adelaide River and Oaks winner Soul Sister.
Second to the recently supplemented Fantastic Moon in the Group 2 Prix Niel three weeks ago, he has shown plenty of quality and class in competitive, upper-echelon races and – now being proven over the trip and going on any ground – should have no reason not to be in the mix once again.
