2023 Longchamp Arc Meeting Preview & Tips – DS
2023 Longchamp Arc Meeting Preview
I hoped Son would be ridden more quietly. He wasn’t, and the exact same thing happened as the last time he tried to make all. She’s Quality was kept away from the main group and ended up last. Elite Status was too free in the middle part of his race and faded. Carolus Magnus ran a cracker considering the route his jockey took but he missed out on place money. Another shocker of a day, let’s hope our fortunes change at the 2023 Longchamp Arc Meeting. Tips are below.
1.15 – Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Group 1)
After watching Vandeek stamp his authority at Newmarket on Saturday, surely Ballymount Boy is the e/w value here at 14/1. Adrian Keatley is having a resurgent season and this fella is his flag bearer. By Camacho, he has finished in the first two on all four runs, including two runner up efforts in G2 & G3 company.
His maiden win came over 6f at Hamilton on good to soft. He then announced himself as a force to be reckoned with in this division with a superb effort behind Vandeek in a Goodwood G2 (6f sft). The son of Camacho finished off his race really well and it was no surprise to see him stepped up to 7f next time out at York.
That was his first start on good to firm ground and he handled it well. The race probably wasn’t run to suit his hold up style but he ran on very nicely to finish a clear second to the highly regarded Indian Run. There should be a stronger gallop in this race, which will suit Ballymount Boy, so at 14/1, he is the e/w selection.
2023 Longchamp Arc Meeting Tip: Ballymount Boy e/w @ 14/1 nap
1.50 – Prix Marcel Boussac (Group 1)
A tough race to weigh up. The bookies seem to rate the Irish and UK form above the French form judging by the betting. Opera Singer, a winner of a Curragh G3 by 6L last time, is the 9/4 fav for Ballydoyle. The third home that day (8.5L behind) finished a neck behind Freville (14s here) on her next start so it does look a pretty strong piece of form.
Darnation has climbed the ranks quickly since her debut defeat at Haydock. Her form figures since are 111, including a G3 and a G2 on her last two starts. However, the worry for her supporters is fast ground. She is 111 on soft and it was good ground for her first run, her sole reversal. You’d imagine connections targeted this race in the hope of it being soft but it has come up good to firm. Will she be as good on that type of surface? We’ll find out this afternoon.
Interesting Outsider
Of the rest, Ribaltaggia looked a big, imposing filly the day she won impressively at Lyon-Parilly. How strong the form is, it is tough to know but it was hard not to be impressed by the daughter of Blame. However, apart from the top two this looks wide open and if you forgive Voodoo Magic her last run (reportedly in season), she has one piece of form that suggests she might be up to sneaking a place.
The daughter of Wootton Bassett won her first couple of starts on nice ground, including at this track. Those came over 6f and Jean-Claude Rouget stepped her up to 7f for her first try in stakes company at Deauville (sft). She didn’t get the clearest of runs, she almost stumbled at one point yet she stayed on very nicely to finish 4th, 2L behind Laulne.
That horse got to within a neck of the 101 rated Dawn Charger on her next start, to whom she was conceding 4lbs. Voodoo Magic may not have beaten Laulne if she had a smoother passage but she surely would have been a lot closer. She had excuses for her last run, she is proven on good ground and she is a course winner. A mile should suit on the evidence of that Deauville effort so at 33/1, a small e/w interest is recommended.
2023 Longchamp Arc Meeting Tip: Voodoo Magic e/w @ 33/1 (4 places Hills)
3.05 – Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Group 1)
We have already backed Place Du Carrousel ante-post for the Arc. You can read why here. Given my recent form, I’m happy to stick with her rather than putting up another loser. Hopefully she runs a big race.
2023 Longchamp Arc Meeting Tip: Place Du Carrousel already advised @ 20/1 (4 places)
3.50 – Prix de l’Opera Longines (Group 1)
Back at 10f, Stay Alert could make her presence felt at a big price in this cracking Group 1. Hughie Morrison’s daughter of Fastnet Rock will be happy that the ground is on the quick side at Longchamp. Her best form has come on good ground and she was arguably a shade unlucky not to break her duck at the highest level at the Curragh two runs ago.
She endured a dreadful passage in the Pretty Polly. Firstly, she got trapped behind the retreating Trevaunance on the rail. Then, she got absolutely mullered just before the furlong pole as Via Sistina swept down the outside. Once she got back on an even keel, she got to within 2L of the winner and with a clearer run, surely she would have won.
Last time at York the 12f trip probably stretched her. The 4yo will appreciate the drop back in distance here and I’m not sure she should be three times the price of Al Husn who was well behind her at York. She had form with Nashwa as a 3yo so she is clearly a classy filly on her day and if she is at her best, Stay Alert should outrun her odds of 20/1 with Oisin Murphy in the plate.
2023 Longchamp Arc Meeting Tip: Stay Alert e/w @ 20/1 (4 places)
4.25 – Prix de l’Abbaye (Group 1)
We backed Moss Tucker at 40s in this last year. It was the race that convinced me he was a G1 sprinter and he hasn’t let me down. However, it was his draw in stall 11 combined with a slightly tardy start that cost him the race last year and unfortunately, he is in the same stall again.
On this track on fast ground, he cannot afford to miss the break by a split second. At 8/1 I’m happy to let him run without the weight of my money on his back, if he wins I’ll be thrilled for him.
Mossy scuppered our 66/1 ante-post bet on Get Ahead in the Flying Five last time out. They lock horns again here and the Cox filly has a slightly better draw in stall 9. I wasn’t too happy with the ride she was given at the Curragh. She is a filly that needs to be delivered late and Kingscote got to the front far too soon for my liking.
If she can get away on level terms here, there is every possibility Kingscote will be able to slot in behind the leaders in a fairly prominent position. If he can time his challenge right this time, Get Ahead is more than capable of landing her first G1 win. Good to firm ground is ideal and even though the 14s is gone, 11/1 is still big enough to warrant an e/w bet.
