After last weekend’s European success in the Ryder Cup, the spotlight remains firmly fixed on Paris this Sunday for the 2018 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Europe’s richest flat race returns to Longchamp following a two-year stint at Chantilly. Can Enable land the prize for the second year in a row? The Coral News Team have all the vital info with a horse-by-horse guide.
Runner-up behind Cracksman in the Coronation Cup and third to Waldgeist at Saint-Cloud but hasn’t improved from those runs. No wins since 2016 suggests that lesser places are the aim.
Winner of a strong 2017 St Leger and should be capable of more after finishing fifth at Saint-Cloud in September. Came home strongly that day and one of the more interesting ones at a big price.
Has the name to challenge but unlikely to be the first Italian-trained winner since 1988. Antonio Marcialis’ charge has been behind Waldgeist on three occasions this term.
Andre Fabre has won this race on seven occasions. Waldgeist is looking to make it eight after an impressive showing in the Prix Foy last month. Some tread underfoot would help the five-year-old.
Second behind Enable 12 months ago but had showed stronger form prior. He should come on from third-place in the Foy but will need a significant leap to go one better than last year.
Been disappointing in elite company this term and unlikely to be on the premises based on a 9l defeat in the Grand Prix de Deauville. No wins since August 2017.
Japan’s only contender this year and shouldn’t merit too much of a threat. Hiroshi Miyamoto’s charge has one win from eight runs and finished plum last in the Foy.
The one to beat. John Gosden’s filly won this in style last term and will receive weight from the boys again this time around. Returned in style with victory in the September Stakes, although knee issues continue to be a worry.
Not far behind subsequent St Leger winner Kew Gardens in the Grand Prix de Paris. Lightly raced this season but could come on from a below-par performance in the Prix Niel last time.
Second in the French Derby and at Deauville last time out but hard to be enthused by either performance. Unexposed over the distance but any challenge would be a shock.
Landed the St Leger last month but could this test be too soon? His transition to a hold-up horse has gone well but this could be a step too far in a short space of time for Aidan O’Brien’s star.
O’Brien’s filly has impressed over 1m, so the step up to 1m 4f is unlikely to suit. An unknown quantity of this trip, though, so anything could be possible.
Winner of the Irish and Yorkshire Oaks and supplemented for the Arc at a cost of €120,000. Dam and sire both won the race in the 90s, and she’ll receive weight from all the main contenders as she bids to emulate them for William Haggas.
