Au revoir to Longchamp for another year
Enable failed to win the Arc for the third time and Frankie Dettori’s cat better watch out. But the mercurial jockey, who will be on a downer for some time after a dreadful day all round for him, shouldn’t be too hard on himself. He gave the great mare every chance of winning and she could race again. Andre Fabre, the greatest living European trainer, won with Waldgeist. Everything else seemed an anti-climax on the day with some very strange results on the extremely soft ground but we’ll be back next year for Europe’s premier horserace and hoping for similar drama.
Updated
Prix de la Foret (5.05pm) result
1st One Master 3-1fav
2nd City Light 7-2
3rd Speak In Colours 18-1
Prix de la Foret (5.05pm)
And they’re off ... Hey Gaman and Forever in Dreams are leading in the early stages ... City Light is going well ... One Master wind=s again, coming late to hold off City Light an repeat her win from last year. Pierre-Charles Boudot, the jockey of Waldgeist, triumphs for Newmarket trainer William Haggas.
Updated
The Prix de l’Abbaye ... you could actually watch the race properly this year, as highlighted by Kevin Blake. Normally, it has been almost impossible given the camera angles. A cheer for European co-operation.
Credit where it is due. The French made big changes to the camera positions for the Prix de l'Abbaye this year, utilising cameras at the far side of the track throughout. It was a much better visual spectacle for those watching the footage as a result. #progress https://t.co/pqzW6asMhI
— Kevin Blake (@kevinblake2011) October 6, 2019
Prix de la Foret (5.05pm) betting
5-2 City Light
11-2 One Master
7-1 Safe Voyage
7-1 Sir Dancealot
8-1 Glorious Journey
9-1 Waldpfad
12-1 Speak In Colours
14-1 Hey Gaman
16-1 Graignes
16-1 Wasmya
20-1 Forever In Dreams
20-1 Marianafoot
Latest Oddschecker betting here.
Prix de l'Abbaye (4.30pm) result
1st Glass Slippers 20-1
2nd So Perfect 22-1
3rd El Astronaute 66-1
Prix de l'Abbaye (4.30pm)
And they’re off ... El Astronaute leads early ... Glass Slippers takes it up ... Battaash is struggling and Glass Slippers goes away to win very easily.
Updated
Frankie Dettori has had his say, and thought the ground was the key factor in Enable’s defeat in the Arc. He said: “The ground was very sticky and I struggled in the first bit of the race. I let her find her feet and she came good to me in the false straight. I waited for the 300 metres [marker], but didn’t find as much as I thought.
“She just folded a bit and the winner was too good for me today, but my filly was already tired. I passed the 200 [metre pole] and I was a spent force then. I think ground had a lot to do with it.”
Listen in to Frankie's thoughts after Enable's defeat. Clearly gutted! 🇫🇷#QPAT #Enable #Longchamp 🏇 pic.twitter.com/2DM4YI73el
— Stephen R Power (@racingblogger) October 6, 2019
Updated
Prix de l'Abbaye (4.30pm) betting
- 4-5 Battaash
- 7-1 Mabs Cross
- 10-1 Fairyland
- 10-1 Spinning Memories
- 12-1 So Perfect
- 12-1 Soldier’s Call
- 14-1 Glass Slippers
- 16-1 Invincible Army
- 20-1 Shades Of Blue
- 25-1 Gold Vibe
- 33-1 El Astronaute
- 33-1 Ken Colt
- 33-1 Sestilio Jet
- 40-1 Finsbury Square
- 40-1 Recon Mission
- 66-1 Jolie
Latest betting here at Oddschecker.
Updated
One question worth asking is why was the Arc run so early. International TV scheduling maybe? It’s a strange one as it has added to the deflated atmosphere around the track. Race meetings are much better when the build to the big-race climax.
Why was the Arc so early? Have surely missed the reason....?
— Lydia Hislop (@LydiaHislop) October 6, 2019
Updated
Enable may have been beaten in the Arc but she ran a brave race and Frankie Dettori seemed to have her in the perfect place in the home straight, just being outstayed in the final furlong. She still got a great welcome on her return to the unsaddling enclosure ...
They cheer her back just as though she had won, Frankie acknowledges them in gratitude and then kisses her on the neck.
— Lee Mottershead (@leemottershead) October 6, 2019
Enable didn’t win but she got the reception a champion deserves @paris_longchamp pic.twitter.com/XJ5monOtTh
Updated
Prix de l'Opera (3.55pm) result
1st Villa Marina 18-1
2nd Fleeting 16-1
3rd Watch Me 10-1
Updated
Prix de l'Opera (3.55pm)
And they’re off ... Mehdaayih and Frankie Dettori have the lead, the rider determined to get back in the winner’s enclosure ... Terebellum, the stablemate, is second, with Commes close up ... it’s wide open ... Villa Marina just holds the fast-finishing Fleeting in a blanket finish. It’s not Frankie’s day, the favourite well beaten under the Italian.
Updated
For those of a nervous disposition look away now. The bookies have had their say on that ultimately deflating Arc de Triomphe. A Bookmakers.tv spokesperson said: “Enable fever allowed Waldgeist to go off at a huge price in the UK relative to his form and he’s saved British firms a record Arc payout by picking up the mare in the dying strides.
“However favourable the result for the trading departments of the bookmakers, it’s a huge anti-climax on what would have been a monumental day for racing. Another win for Frankie and Enable would have lead the news bulletins at a perfect time in the build up to Ascot’s Champions Day and this highlights the risks of a one-horserace marketing strategy in such an unpredictable sport.”
Updated
Enable may stay in training
Both trainer John Gosden and Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for Enable’s owner Khalid Abdullah, declined to confirm Enable’s anticipated immediate retirement.
Grimthorpe said: “We’ve always said Prince Khalid will make the decisions. Whatever happened it wasn’t going to be in a hurry, and I think we will get her back. Prince Khalid will want to reflect on all the various possibilities, give it some good thought – and hopefully we’ll come up with a good answer.
“How can we complain? She’s been the most fantastic filly. Prince Khalid has just enjoyed every moment of her. It was not what we all wanted obviously but in the end we have to accept these things in racing. We don’t love her any less.”
Updated
Prix de l'Opera (3.55) betting
7-4 Mehdaayih
9-2 Terebellum
7-1 Watch Me
7-1 With You
10-1 Commes
12-1 Pink Dogwood
14-1 Fleeting
16-1 Etoile
16-1 Goddess
20-1 Villa Marina
33-1 Cartiem
33-1 Ligne D’Or
Full betting at Oddschecker here.
If you’re sticking around for the rest of the afternoon’s action it is live on Sky Sports Racing and it’s all high quality.
Sky Sports Racing is the only channel showing every race from @paris_longchamp today. Following the Arc at 3.05pm, we'll bring you exclusive coverage of the likes of Battaash, Mehdaayih and Mabs Cross go for Group 1 glory in France!
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 6, 2019
Updated
Enable beaten in bid for third Arc
Enable had to make do with the runner-up spot in her bid for history and a third victory in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe as Waldgeist provided Andre Fabre with a record eighth success.
Having stretched her Group One tally to 10 with victories in the Coral-Eclipse, the King George and the Yorkshire Oaks this season, all eyes were on John Gosden’s brilliant mare as she aimed to become the first three-time winner of Europe’s premier middle-distance contest.
Frankie Dettori had to niggle the 4-6 favourite along during the early stages, but she was back on the bridle at the top of the home straight and looked well positioned to race into the record books.
Once asked to quicken, Enable did manage to pull clear – and the packed grandstands in Paris roared in expectation. However, her stride began to shorten in the final furlong on the testing ground and she was unable to resist the fast-finishing 16-1 shot Waldgeist - fourth in last year’s renewal and beaten by Enable on each of the three previous occasions they had met. PA
Updated
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (3.05pm) result
1st Waldgeist 16-1
2nd Enable 4-6fav
3rd Sottsass 8-1
Updated
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (3.05pm)
They’re off ... Soft Light is slowly away and Fierement leads with Blast Onepiece just behind with Enable in midfield ... and Ghaiyyath now takes the lead ... and the Godolphin runner will attempt to make all the running from now on in with Enable in fourth ... Ghaiyyath still leads but is under pressure ... Enable takes the lead in the home straight and kicks for home ... but Waldgeist gets up to beat Enable and foil her hat-trick bid... Andre Fabre has killed Bambi!
Updated
The Arc runners are leaving the paddock ...
Parade for the Arc pic.twitter.com/16J7CHO8GS
— PA Racing (@PAracing) October 6, 2019
And here is Enable about to go down to the start, with the crowd cheering “Oh, Frankie Dettori!” in the style of “Oh, Jeremy Corbyn ...”
Heading to the track ... #Frankie #Enable #Longchamp pic.twitter.com/JvQIkXV4FQ
— Greg Wood (@Greg_Wood_) October 6, 2019
Here is Enable in the paddock awaiting her destiny ...
Enable fabulous in paddock pic.twitter.com/AZ9c3nVKzw
— Gay Kelleway Racing (@GayKelleway) October 6, 2019
Finally down memory lane as you wait for the great race, here’s Dancing Brave in 1986 beating a field that was only second to the one the lined up against Sea-Bird ... and loom where the inner came from ...
Jockeys ready for the Arc and Dettori gets a big cheer from the crowd at Longchamp
Jockeys for the #QPAT - a rousing reception for Dettori from the packed-out stands around the parade ring pic.twitter.com/KyfnXS2qVW
— Paddy von Behr (@paddyvb) October 6, 2019
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (3.05pm) betting
8-13 Enable
8-1 Japan
9-1 Sottsass
10-1 Magical
12-1 Ghaiyyath
18-1 Waldgeist
66-1 Blast Onepiece
66-1 Fierement
80-1 French King
100-1 Kiseki
100-1 Nagano Gold
100-1 Soft Light
Full betting here at Oddschecker.
Fabre: 'I don't want to shoot Bambi!'
Andre Fabre, when asked about how his horse, Waldgeist, was going to beat Enable in the Arc replied: “I don’t want to kill Bambi!” The great French trainer was more forthcoming about his Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Victor Ludorum, who maintained his unbeaten record with an impressive display.
Fabre – who also trains Middle Park winner Earthlight in the Godolphin blue – said: “I think he is really good, as he is a laid-back horse and has a fantastic attitude. He does everything easily.
“The ground was a big concern, as he is a light mover, but he handled it very well. Race after race he remains unbeaten and does everything easily. He could be a very good horse. We will aim for a Classic campaign and the French Guineas, I’d imagine.”
He added: “He is not too big or small, he is a neat horse. We will have discussions with Sheikh Mohammed, as he has a good bunch of two-year-olds, but I’d imagine he will be aimed at the French Guineas and the Prix du Jockey Club.
“He is less precocious than Earthlight and is not a natural two-year-old like Earthlight and has less natural speed than Earthlight, but he would stay further than him, for sure.” Guardian sport and agencies
Updated
Andre Fabre, European trainer par excellence, is very enamoured of Victor Ludorum, speaking of him, prefaced by a “if I dare”, in the same breath as Mill Reef.
The French 2,000 Guineas and Prix du Jockey Club are on the agenda for Victor Ludorum, says André Fabre, who compares his classy two-year-old to the great Mill Reef... pic.twitter.com/1Oe4p7MeLN
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 6, 2019
Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (1.50pm) result
1st Victor Ludorum 2-1fav
2nd Alson 11-1
3rd Armory 9-4
Updated
Albigna possible for Breeders' Cup
Albigna bounced back to winning ways with an ultimately clear-cut success in the Prix Marcel Boussac at ParisLongchamp. Jessica Harrington’s charge had looked every inch a top-class filly in the making after winning a maiden and the Group Two Airlie Stud Stakes at the Curragh earlier the season.
The Niarchos family-owned juvenile disappointed when strongly fancied for the Moyglare Stud Stakes three weeks ago, but was later found to be in season.
This one-mile contest presented the daughter of Zoffany with a second chance to grab Group One glory - and while she was under pressure in the hands of Shane Foley before the home turn, she responded admirably to her rider’s urgings.
Harrington said: “I wasn’t really confident beforehand as she has only run on good and good to firm ground, so we were going into the unknown. I was really not that confident going into today, but she showed the real Albigna that we see at home.
“I’ve only seen it the once and I thought she wasn’t travelling that great, but Shane said afterwards that she likes to find her feet, which she did in her first two races. In the Moyglare she ran a bit free and was found to be in season afterwards.”
RaceBets, Betfair and Coral all cut Harrington’s charge to 14-1 from 25-1 for next year’s 1,000 Guineas. Harrington said: “It is wonderful to win this race and I’m grateful to the Niarchos family for sending me these beautifully-bred yearlings – after the year we had last year with Alpha Centauri I didn’t think I’d possibly have a year like this with the two-year-old fillies.
“I would imagine so [she will go to the Guineas], she gets the mile well and she is a big filly and I’d imagine she would stay further than a mile. This is a ‘win and you’re in’ for the Breeders’ Cup and I know that it is very close to the heart of Maria [Niarchos], the Breeders’ Cup, so we will talk about that after the dust has settled here.
“I would say she is probably top of the pecking order (of the stable’s fillies) as she stayed the mile so she looks more like a Classic filly.” PA
Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (1.50pm)
They’re off ... Alson and Frankie Dettori lead with Armory close behind ... Ecrivain is in third ... Alson running free in the lead ... Armory still close behind ... they kick for home with Victor Ludorum coming through fast to hold on an keep his unbeaten record with Alson and Helter Skelter following him home.
Updated
Back to memory lane and another great Arc winner in Mill Reef, winning in 1971 after his success in the Derby that year ...
Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (1.50pm) betting
- 2-1 Victor Ludorum
- 7-2 Ecrivain
- 9-2 Armory
- 8-1 Helter Skelter
- 8-1 Kenway
- 12-1 Alson
- 33-1 Chachnak
- Full betting here at Oddschecker
Updated
Prix Marcel Boussac (1.15pm) result
1st Albigna 4-1
2nd Mareita 11-2
3rd Flighty Lady 7-1
Updated
Prix Marcel Boussac (1.15pm)
They’re off ... Marieta is into the lead and taking a strong hold ... should be a decent pace ... Nunzia moves up to second ... Savarin is in midfield on the rails ... Mareita tries to kick on and Savarin is under pressure ... Marieta weakens close home and finishes second to the strong-finishing Albigna, trained by the Irish handler Jessica Harrington.
Updated
Savarin, the mount of Yutaka Take, as big a name in Japan as David Beckham was at the height of his fame here, is favourite for the opener on Arc day and he looks ready. The race will be off in less than ten minutes
Savarin, the mount of Yutaka Take representing the André Fabre stable, takes in the Prix Marcel Boussac preliminaries 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/QA7DLKNED8
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 6, 2019
Prix Marcel Boussac (1.15pm) betting
- 100-30 Savarin
- 4-1 Albigna
- 6-1 Bionic Woman,
- 6-1 Marieta,
- 8-1 Flighty Lady,
- 10-1 Kenlova,
- 10-1 Plegastell
- 20-1 Nunzia,
- 100-1 Fee Historique
Full betting on Oddschecker here.
Updated
Enable is at the track ...
Updated
We are going to miss Frankie Dettori when he hangs up his boots - and whisper it but it would not be the biggest surprise in the world if he did so after he wins the big race - but the bookies will too. And it’s no surprise to hear how much impact he has on the betting. There are plenty of British punters piling on the Enable-Battaash double today. Battaash is the hot favourite for the Prix de l’Abbaye whihc is off at 4.30pm.
A spokesman for bonuscodebets.co.uk said: “The Frankie factor and Enable’s superstar status mean today’s Arc looks set to smash betting records. Many bookmakers will be pleading poverty should she make history today before sprinting sensation Battaash follows up, but the bigger problem for the firms may arise down the line when Frankie finally hangs up his boots as today’s evidence suggests recreational betting fans are more than happy to get involved when the Italian is lining up to ride a surefire winner. It’s difficult to see anyone else whip the mainstream market into such a frenzy when he’s gone.”
The team look through the rest of the races at Longchamp on Sunday. @DavidJenningsRP thinks Battaash is a different horse this year and thinks the double with Enable is a strong shout.
— Racing Post (@RacingPost) October 6, 2019
LISTEN🔊 https://t.co/Syb7k5P2VV
WATCH🎥 https://t.co/20S0zFdnVU pic.twitter.com/cdN3EuSYeW
And here are Greg Wood’s Sunday tips in full for today’s domestic races.
Updated
Our trip down Arc memory lane continues with what many Turfistes believe is the greatest Arc winner, Sea-Bird. The brilliant colt is the only horse to have won the Derby on the bridle and in 1965 beat what is widely regarded as the greatest field to assemble for the Arc with ease. Here, with Peter O’Sullevan commentary, is Sea-Bird ...
On Arc trials day at Longchamp three weeks ago, there was scarcely a cloud in the sky and the mid-afternoon temperature peaked at around 27 degrees. It was seriously, almost unpleasantly, hot. A different experience awaits horses and racegoers in the Bois de Boulogne this afternoon, as the intermittent but heavy showers which hit Paris on Saturday are expected to continue up to and after the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at 3.05pm British Standard Time. The sun, as it happens, is out at the moment but as far as the ground goes, the damage has been done.
The good news for fans of Enable, who will be attempting to record a historic third success in the Arc, is that she has three Group One wins on soft ground to her name, in the Arc (at Chantilly) in 2017, the King George at Ascot the same year and the Breeders’ Cup Turf last November.
When it comes to her main market rivals, the situation is less clear-cut. Japan won his maiden on soft ground in September last year but has done all his racing since on good ground or better. Ghaiyyath has yet to race on anything slower than good, while a Listed win on good-to-soft is all that Sottsass brings to the party. And when it comes to the three Japanese runners – Kiseki, Blast Onepiece and Fierement – they have scarcely a couple of runs on anything other than firm ground to rub together.
So even the weather, it seems, is on Enable’s side, but win or lose for John Gosden’s mare, French racing also is bending over backwards to ensure that travelling fans go home with much happier memories of Longchamp this year than last, when the magnificent new grandstand failed to cope with the experience of meeting its first serious crowd.
A quick stroll around the enclosures just now suggests that, for now at least, the supply of drinks, food and toilet facilities is more than keeping up with demand. If so, all we need now is for the heaviest showers to head elsewhere and Enable to win the Arc for this to be one of the great racing days. The odds on the latter are around 8-11. As for the rain, check in here for updates as the afternoon unfolds.
Enable would be joining a long list of Arc greats if winning today, to be mentioned in the same breath as ... well I’ll be introducing you to them or reminding you of them ... depending how old or how committed a racing fan you aree. We’ll start with Ribot, who won the Arc in 1955 and 1956. Here’s Pathe film of his second win, with some ripe Pathe commentary, including how the “competition in the ooh-la-la section was also pretty strong” ... ladies and gentlemen the great, unbeaten Ribot ...
Welcome to Arc day
It’s Arc day and horse racing fans have been waiting for this since the moment Enable just managed to hold off the last-gasp challenge of Sea Of Class and cross the line for her second victory in Europe’s most prestigious race last year.
Enable’s story has proved the most riveting on the Flat racing circuit since the mighty Frankel’s road to greatness and she would take her place in the European racing pantheon with a third straight win at Longchamp today. Frankie Dettori’s mount is an odds-on shot but victory is by no means assured especially with the persistent rain resulting in very soft ground for the big race. Or as the French say, Tres Souple! Greg Wood, our man at the track, has suggested runaway Baden-Baden winner Ghaiyyath as an each-way alternative at 12-1.
☎️🍀Terrain/Ground @paris_longchamp
— France Galop (@francegalop) October 6, 2019
À 8h, terrain TRÈS SOUPLE : VERY SOFT (4,1).
🌧 3.5mm en 24h, 1mm d’ici à 14h.
Lice à 0m, open stretch à 6m (jusqu’à 450m du poteau N°1) /
Rail at 0m, open stretch at 6m (20ft), 450yds away from main post. pic.twitter.com/i4jCcswfh1
There are no less than six Group One races on the Longchamp card today, with the first race off at 1.15pm – so sit back and relax and let me and Greg Wood in Paris be your guide to what could prove a historic day for racing.
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