THE 2024 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Group 1 at Longchamp on Sunday is certainly an open looking renewal where you can make a case for plenty of this field. At this stage from a ground perspective it will not be testing as there is a dry forecast for Sunday during racing.
In the first race on Sunday on Arc Day in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac Criterium des Pouliches Group 1 Zarigana Unibet 8/11 looks very hard to oppose with Bedtime Story and Simmering next in the betting.
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The Wine Tipster
Longchamp Sunday:
1.30 Longchamp – Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere Group 1 (7f)
Houquetot can make the step up to Group 1 company today in a race that is more open that the betting suggests.
Houquetot’s three wins from four starts have shown he knows how to get his head in front, and whilst the form of his Group 3 win in the Prix La Rochette at Longchamp is short of what’s required, he was very game that day and gives the impression that he will just keep trying and do enough, rather than be flashy. He’ll enjoy the likely strong pace on here and can reward each-way backers at a price.
3.20 Longchamp – Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Group 1 (1m 4f)
Al Riffa (nap) was marked up as my each way selection to chase home City Of Troy in the Eclipse at Sandown over one mile two furlongs and that was just what he did in the soft at Sandown when staying on well at the finish. He went straight in my notebook as a contender in the Arc and substantiated his claims when thriving on his first run over this distance in early August, when storming clear to win easily by five lengths in a Group 1 at Hoppegarten in Germany in impressive fashion.
It is worth remembering he won the Group 1 National Stakes as a two-year-old and then disappointed on seasonal debut as a three-year-old last season when fourth ahead of a fine second at Deauville to Ace Impact on his only other start in 2023.
This four-year-old has come of age this season and on his tenth career start will run a big race from stall 9.
Delius is the French three-year-old that makes the most appeal with plenty of untapped potential and a strongly run race will be in his favour. This unraced two-year-old notched up a hat-trick earlier in the season and then in July finished third to Sosie when given far too much to do on that occasion at Longchamp in the Grand Prix de Paris when he went off favourite.
Back at Longchamp in September Delius chased home Sosie once again when doing his best work near the finish with Look de Vega back in third.
Deluis will handle the conditions, has a good draw in stall 7 and his trainer Jean-Claude Rouget has an excellent record in the last five Arcs.
4.40 Longchamp – Qatar Prix de la Foret Presente par Education Above All Group 1 (7f)
Kinross is a remarkable seven-year-old who showed at Doncaster in the Park Stakes when beating Lead Artist easily by two lengths that he is still mighty force over this distance. This assignment is tougher with the front runner Ramatuelle in opposition; however Kinross will love the ground and can triumph again to follow up on his 2022 success.
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