Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Guide 2021

The five year old had an unbelievable season last term racing four times and going on to win all of her events with ease.

She started her campaign off at Cork in a Group Three event over 1m4f for fillies and she managed to see off Group Two winner Cayenne Pepper comfortably.

Off the back of that prep run she headed straight over to France for the Group One Prix Vermeille, where she took on horses like Dame Malliott and Raabihah and on good ground she blitzed the field by three lengths.

The five year old showed her versatility in terms of ground next time out when landing a hat-trick in the 1m2f Group One Prix de l'Opera on heavy ground, beating Alpine Star who had some serious form.

Having had an unbelievable season already, Weld sent his star mare to America for the Breeders Cup Turf at Keeneland and on firm ground she needed every bit of the 1m4f to land the event.

That was her best performance to date, coming all the way round the field to see off the likes of multiple Group One winners Magical, Lord North and Mogul.

Having been waited on for later this season she returned in the Group Three Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown and although her trainer explained she would need the run, she still went on to win by close to seven lengths.

It was all systems go to the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown and in a thrilling renewal of the race she was seen finish second the retired superstar St Mark's Basilica in a photo-finish.

The extra trip in the Arc is exactly what she wants and whether the ground turns up quick or soft she will be able to handle it and at 11/4 looks a great bet.

The son of Frankel has been seen five times now, finishing fourth on debut in October at Nottingham over 8.5 furlongs when looking to learn a lot for the experience.

He then went back over the same course and distance later that month and got of the mark for the first time in his career, taking the event by an impressive nine lengths.

Saved for this season he made his return in the Group Three Classic Trial at Sandown in April and finished a staying on second behind a nice type for William Haggas.

He was then stepped up in trip for the Listed Derby Trial at Lingfield and finished a fair second behind Third Realm who was better on the day.

With his form falling short this year, he was overlooked to begin with for the Epsom Derby but the closer the race came the more that punters latched onto him and in the end he went on to win easily by close to five lengths under a superb ride by Adam Kirby.

From there it was all systems go to the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes where he managed to see of the smart Mishriff and Love to take the Group One.

He sets some of the best form standards over 1m4f this season and the market seems to like him.

The three year old son of Frankel made his debut last term at Newmarket in a decent Novice Stakes over a mile on heavy ground and he ran out an easy winner.

Saved for this season, he was stepped up in trip on seasonal debut in a good Conditions Stakes over 10f and again ran out a good winner, doing his best work near the finish.

The form of that race does not look bad with the second since placing in a better event and the fourth placed runner since winning.He also backed up this form line last time out when landing the Group Two Dante Stakes at York, staying the 10.5 furlongs well.

He saw off smart runners Megallan and High Definition that day and was sure to head to the Derby having plenty of stamina in his family.

The colt managed to finish a good third in the Classic event behind Adayar and Mojo Star, with the form of those runners working out and he also lost two shoes in running that day.

With plenty of scope for improvement from that run he then went into the Irish Derby at The Curragh we he chased down Lone Eagle late in the day to get up on the line.

Looking to land back to back Group One events in the Grand Prix de Paris, he slipped clear of the field and took the event by six lengths.

Last time out he arguably topped all of his performances from this season when bounding clear in the Group One St Leger to take the event with ease.

He is a high class athlete that has proved this season that staying is his game and at 6/1 looks the big each way value.

Having needed her first two runs as a juvenile, she got off the mark at The Curragh at the third time of asking in a Fillies' Maiden.

However, since then she has raced four times between seven furlongs and a mile in decent graded events and has struggled being outclassed.

Stepping up in trip on debut this term brought bring improvement out of her, when winning the Group Three Musidora Stakes at York over 10.5f.

Many thought off the back of that she should have been closer in the market to her stablemate Santa Barbara, and they were right.

Snowfall went on to take the event with ease, winning by a record 16 lengths for Aidan O'Brien and jockey Frankie Dettori and that saw the handler land the event for the ninth time.

Off the back of that she made it three wins from three for the season when landing the Oaks double at the Curragh, again going on to score by a wide margin.

She made it an Oaks treble next time out when comfortably taking the Yorkshire Oaks at the Ebor meeting and was then sent to France for a trial ahead of the Arc.

Odds on to make it five wins in a row and stay unbeaten for the season, she was shockingly beaten by Teona in the Group One Prix Vermeille.

Off the back of that she has drifted slightly in the markets, but if anywhere near her best will take some beating getting weight off the field.

Love was always destined to be a smart horse and at juvenile level proved that when finishing third on her final two year old start in the Group One bet365 Fillies Mile, but this season she has transformed into a world beater.

She made her seasonal debut in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and beat a superb field of runners by over four lengths to solidify her credentials for the season.

From there O'Brien decided to step her up in trip for the Epsom Oaks and she revelled in the extra distance, beating a sound field by a devastating nine lengths.

The Yorkshire Oaks was another test for the three year old and again she passed with flying colours, not seeing a rival all the way round and going clear towards the end of the race.

All of these runs were in preparation for the Arc at ParisLongchamp but with the rain falling making the conditions extremely testing, she was withdrawn from the race.

There was rumours that the filly would head to the Breeders Cup meeting, but connections decided to pull up stumps for the season and bring her back this term.

After numerous withdrawals because of ground turning soft, she finally got her starting point at Royal Ascot in the Group One Prince Of Wales's Stakes where she managed to see off a superb field.

She was then last seen in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot being fairly beaten by Adayar and Mishriff, when favourite to take the event.

The filly has been seen twice more since then and has been underwhelming being well beaten in the Juddmonte International and Blandford Stakes and now 25/1 will need a serious return to form to take this race.

Won't run if it rains.

The three year old has been seen five times to date, winning at Newbury in a good maiden on soft as a juvenile and then finished second at Haydock behind Fancy Man on his final start last term.

This season he has only been seen three times and bounced back to winning ways in a big way when taking the Group Three Classic Trial at Sandown

That saw him beat Derby and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth winner Adayar in good fashion and also was ahead of some other nice horses like Yibir and Lone Eagle who have since gone onto win.

Alenquer franked the form aswell next time out when taking the Group Two King Edward VII Stakes over 1m4f at Royal Ascot, with the heavy ground playing to his strengths.

The colt was last seen on very soft ground again last time out in France when third behind the smart Hurricane Lane in the Grand Prix De Paris.

He was then dropped in trip for the Juddmonte International and finished best of the rest behind Mishriff to grab a nice second.

The colt is highly consistent and has proved his worth at this level, going back up in trip and loving any rain that will fall, he is certainly not without a chance for William Haggas.

The first of the Japanese runners in the race is the five year old mare Chrono Genisis who will be ridden by the dual champion jockey Oisin Murphy.

The mare looks a big player in this event having been largely consistent throughout her career landing multiple Grade One events in Japan, whilst placing in other if not winning.

This year she has been seen twice to date, running at Meydan in March when going down by a neck in the Group One Dubai Sheema Classic to superstar Mishriff.

From there she was given a little time off and returned at Hanshin (JPN) in June when taking out a good Grade One over 1m3f.

Not seen since then, she is known for going well fresh but the soft ground that is predicted will be against her.

Still an interesting runner.

The three year old son of Sea The Stars, was first seen as a juvenile in October when finishing a good second behind Scope in a Maiden at Newbury on heavy ground.

Back this season, the colt was stepped up to 10f at Newbury on better ground and finished a fair second behind Manobo for Charlie Appleby, who then went and bolted up in a better event.

His form was at a decent level but having still been a maiden heading into the Derby made him very vulnerable, but on the day, although not winning the race, he gave a superb run to finish second at odds of 50/1.

Since then he has been seen three more times, heading over to the Curragh for the Irish Derby but never getting the run of the race and off the back of that he was sent to Newbury in a maiden, where the confidence booster worked a trick as he was an easy winner of the race.

Stepped up in trip and saved for the St Leger last time out, he ran another cracker to just be beaten by the smart Hurricane Lane for Godolphin.

There have been worst 66/1 shots in this race, with him proving he will handle the trip and soft ground.

The four year old filly started her career last term for Jean-Claude Rouget and she got off the mark at the first time of asking in a maiden.

She backed that up over 1m3f at Longchamp when taking a Listed race and then stepped up to the Group One Prix de Diane where she was a close fourth behind Irish stars.

Those three runners have gone on to frank the form since and so has this filly when getting back to winning ways in a Group Three at Deauville.

She was expected to back that up with Group One glory in the Prix Vermeille over course and distance for the Arc, but she was beaten by the Dermot Weld trained Tarnawa.

The daughter of Sea The Stars ended last term finish fifth of 12 in this race never being any match for the leading contenders.

This term she has threatened to be a superstar, but on her first three runs in Group Three, Two and Listed company she has to settle for runner up.

She finally got her head in front for this season at Deauville last time out in the Group Two Prix de Pomone and any rain would be welcomed by her on the day.

Still opposable on the best of her form.

Broome has always held big potential being smart at both three and four, but this season as a five year old has been his best to date.

He has been seen eight times this term, landing a hat-trick of wins to start the season including the Group Two Mooresbridge stakes at the Curragh.

After that he was a narrow second in the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup and again he had to play bridesmaid at Royal Ascot in the Hardwicke Stakes.

Turned around quickly, he was next seen seeing off a strong challenge from the French to take the Group One Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud by a length.

Looking to back that up last time out in the Group Two Prix Foy over the Arc course and distance he was second to Deep Bond.

Although a very smart horse, he may not be good enough to cut it against the best of these.

Always runs his race.

The Cedric Rossi trained Sealiway is a big price in this event and looks to have been waited on all season at taking a crack at this having not been seen since June.

The three year old was a bright juvenile winning four of his seven events and then also going on to run well at Keeneland in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf.

This term he made his seasonal return when second over a mile at Longchamp and looked to back that up next time out over the same C&D but flopped in the French 2000 Guineas behind St Mark's Basilica.

Up in trip for the last time he was seen in the French Derby at Chantilly, he was a much better second behind the same horse for Ballydoyle.

He steps up again for his first try at this trip on Sunday and it will either be the making or breaking of him.

Another runner for Japan across the race is the last time out impressive winner Deep Bond, who has been tipped by many to cause a shock at a big price.

The four year old colt has always been a horse that has promised so much but never backed that up, but this term has started to get his head infront.

In March he went on to take a 1m7f Grade Two in Japan by five lengths and then backed that up in May when a close second in a Grade One.

Given a break he returned in the Group Two Prix Foy last time out and went on to win well from Broome, throwing down a big statement.

Seems to like the ground quick, so any rain could hinder him.

German raider Torquator Tasso has been consistent in his home country of late but the standard of Group One races in Germany does not compare to the same form needed to win this event.

The 80/1 shot in July landed a 12f Group Two event in Hamburg on good to soft ground and then backed that up at Hoppegarten when second to Alpinista in the Group One Grosser Preis Von Berlin.

Last time out at Baden-Baden he got back to winning ways in the Group One Grosser Preis Von Baden and although it is nice form in Germany, he needs much more compared to the horses at the top of the market in this race.

Won't mind rain but just looks out his depth in this field which is a massive step up.

The big 100/1 outsider of the field is the three year old Bubble Gift who seems to act on good ground and with soft ground forecasted, it should rule him out of things.

However, he heads into the event with some nice form, landing back to back races at the start of this season at Chantilly and Longhchamp.

He was well beaten by the likes of Hurricane Lane and Alenquer in the Grand Prix de Paris after that, but bounced back to form in the Group Two Prix Niel last time out when narrowly seeing off rival Baby Rider on good ground.

He seems a lovely horse for connections but just can't cut it at the top level and has some big form to reverse against some horses near the top of the market.

Needs a career best on ground he doesn't favour.

The final runner of the race is another 100/1 shot, this time for Pascal Barry with Baby Rider looking to have it all to do in this field.

The three year old son of Gleneagles landed three of his first four events during his career but when plunged into the big races like the Prix Du Jockey Club he got found out only beating three home.

Again, he was well beaten in the Grand Prix De Paris over course and distance finishing fifth and although last time out giving a career best run to finish a narrow second to Bubble Gift in the Group Two Prix Niel, that form is not good enough to see him involved here.