History could be made on Sunday as Enable seeks to become the first ever horse to win the prestigious Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe three times.
A win for the six-year old mare would seal her place among the all-time greats – but will she deliver in the expected heavy conditions at Longchamp?
Here’s our look at one of the most hotly anticipated races of the year as we look at the potential rivals standing in her way.
Arc Odds | Can Enable Make History in Paris?
Enable starts this race as 6/5 favourite in the latest Arc odds for good reason.
Firstly, John Gosden’s mare has cast-iron pedigree in France as a two-time Arc winner, and narrowly missed out on a hat-trick when blindsided by a superb late rally from Waldgeist in last year’s race.
Secondly, while they say Love conquers all, Enable’s biggest threat won’t be around to thwart her treble bid.
Aidan O’Brien opted to withdraw Love given the very soft conditions expected in Paris this weekend. Her main rival’s absence has significantly strengthened Enable’s position in the latest Arc betting since the middle of this week.
Thirdly, she has shown she can win this race in contrasting styles. Her first Arc win saw her dominate the field in 2017 at Chantilly, while a smart tactical run ensured she had just enough to squeak the win in 2018 (by a short neck at Longchamp). While Waldgeist foiled her hattrick bid last year, she’s got the track record to suggest she can stand up to any challenge thrown at her this weekend.
Finally, it’s impossible to overlook the Dettori factor. Frankie and Enable have forged the ultimate double act over the years, and the Italian will know exactly what he needs to do to time Enable’s charge to perfection. Dettori will be hoping to bolster his record as the leading jockey in the history of this race as he looks to add a seventh Arc title to his trophy cabinet.
Enable leads the way in the Prix de L’Arc betting at 6/5 with Marathonbet, but could this be the year she finally comes unstuck?
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Odds | Enable’s Rivals
Another of UK racing’s biggest stars heads across the channel this week for a maiden Arc outing.
Classy stayer Stradivarius (6/1) will be hoping to hit the right notes to add the Arc to his substantial roll call of honours. The six-year old could find the suspect weather the perfect springboard to mount a surprise and hand Gosden an alternative route to Arc success.
Much will depend how he clicks with jockey Olivier Peslier with usual sparring partner Dettori on Enable – but the Frenchman is a four-time winner here and they look the main danger.
A little local knowhow suggests Sottsass (8/1) could be the silent assassin in this race. He’s got bags of previous experience around this course and landed a credible third last year behind Enable. He could thrive if it remains on the soft side on Sunday.
Finally, you might want to give Gold Trip (22/1) a go in the each-way stakes. The three-year-old might not have the turn of speed to snatch the win at Longchamp, but he’s a consistent performer on his previous efforts over soft ground. He also beat more fancied rivals into third in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris here a fortnight ago, so could put himself in and amongst the places on Sunday if in the right mood.
Odds correct at time of writing but may be subject to change.
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