Longchamp hosts its second Arc card since its makeover, and the big race itself revolves around Enable’s attempt to become the first horse to win the race for a third time – a feat last attempted by Treve in 2015. The only concern I had with her chance is the fact she has only ever raced two of her 11 opponents before, but it’s a very tall order for any of them to improve past her as she is already an all-time great. I think she’s a perfectly fair price at 4/6 given her form is head and shoulders above everything else in opposition, so I’m not really interested in taking her on. Fortunately, there’s six other Group Ones to get stuck into on the undercard, and plenty of big prices…
1m Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere Sponsorise Par Manateq (Group 1) (2yo Colts & Fillies) (Grande Course) (2yo)
This looks a proper betting race as I really don’t think the favourite Victor Ludorom will appreciate the very soft ground – he’s by Shamardal whose progeny usually don’t want it. He’s worth taking on. I can’t decide between HELTER SKELTER and German raider ALSON, both at double-digit odds, so I’m backing both rather than taking one on unattractive each-way terms. Their form ties in with each-other and both have strong claims if handling the ground. Helter Skelter is most likely to do that, has a potent turn of foot and stamina assured, while Alson has the eye-catching booking of Frankie Dettori and should relish the step up to a mile.
1pt win Helter Skelter @10/1, 13:50 Longchamp, Sunday
1pt win Alson @12/1, 13:50 Longchamp, Sunday
1m2f Prix de l’Opera Longines (Group 1) (3yo+ Fillies & Mares) (Grande Course) (Turf) (3yo+)
Another cracking race with plenty of depth. The market is sheer madness, though, with all of Aidan O’Brien’s fillies huge prices. PINK DOGWOOD simply has to be backed at 20/1 after her excellent Oaks form was franked by Anapurna on Saturday. She should love soft ground and this slightly shorter trip should play to her strengths. It’s easy to forgive her last run, which will most likely have been a prep race, and if she returns to her Oaks form – where she had the favourite Mehdaayih well beaten – she’ll be there at the finish. However, given she has to bounce back from a few poor runs, I don’t think she is a solid each-way bet so it’ll be win-only for me. It’s also very difficult to overlook her stablemate GODDESS at 25/1. She was a very good second in Group Two company on Irish Champions weekend, is progressing with every run and should appreciate the softer conditions as another daughter of Camelot. With four places offered each-way, you can make more getting her placed than you can backing the favourite; there’s value in that price.
1pt win Pink Dogwood @20/1, 15:55 Longchamp, Sunday
1pt each-way Goddess @25/1, 15:55 Longchamp, Sunday (1-4, 1/5 with Betfair Sportsbook)