Europe’s most prestigious race is almost 100 years old but has a temporary new venue this year. Traditional home Longchamp is under re-development so the historic two-day meeting has been moved 30 miles north of Paris to Chantilly and will be set against the backdrop of the town’s historic chateau.
The world’s most valuable race on Turf (and only second overall behind the World Cup in Dubai), the ‘Arc’ calls itself ‘not a race, but a monument’ and all winners swiftly attain legendary status.
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe History
Contested over 2400m (1m4f),the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe was first run on Sunday 3 October, 1920. The inaugural running was won by Comrade, a three-year-old colt owned by Evremond de Saint-Alary – the winner’s prize was just 150,000 francs.
In 1935, the event secured state funding via the Loterie Nationale, which resumed in 1949 after the Second World War and continued until 1982 when individual sponsors took over. Arc Weekend now includes seven races at Group 1 level, and four with Group 2 status.
Only seven horses have won the Arc twice, the last being the brilliant mare Treve in 2014. Andre Fabre has trained more winners than anyone else (seven). There is been no winner aged older than four since 2002 when Frankie Dettori rode the five-year-old Marienbard to victory. Dettori also rode last year’s winner Golden Horn – his fourth success in the big
race.
That age angle has to be a worry for supporters of favourite Postponed. Roger Varian’s entire has won his last six races, four of them at Group 1 level. He handles all types of going and the Arc has long been his target. He’ll be worth a fortune at stud if successful but his odds have contracted to a best 15/8 with Betway and he will need luck in-running and to be at the very top of his game to beat several rivals who are also proficient at the highest level.
Online betting site Betway provides a solid wagering platform for their customers, priding themselves on delivering competitive market quotes for punters.
New customers registering an account with online betting site Betway can get their hands on a free £30 bet from the bookmaker. After going through the quick registration process, your target is to place bets which total the value of your initial deposit with them at minimum odds of 1.75 (3/4 fractional).
Once you have matched the value of your initial deposit with qualifying bets, Betway will reward you with a free bet bonus in your account. The maximum free bet value is £30 in the welcome bonus offer. When the free bet hits your account, you will have 7 days to use that bonus. Terms and conditions apply, please see full detail directly at Betway.
The registration process at Betway is quick and easy to go through. It is all very self explanatory and won’t take long, and there are numerous ways to fund the account, from e-wallets like Skrill through to bank and credit cards.
It’s 47 years since a Japanese horse first took its chance in the Arc. The nation is still awaiting its first victory but they have had the runner-up on four occasions and there is plenty of confidence this year behind Japanese Derby winner MAKAHIKI, who had plenty in hand despite the narrow margin of his victory in the Prix Niel. The booking of French jockey Christophe Lemaire instead of a Japanese rider is a significant concession by trainer Yasuo Tomomichi and could see Japan finally get their winner – the general 6/1 certainly looks an each-way bet to nothing, especially as Skybet are offering place terms on the first four, though he could have been better drawn.
Aidan O’Brien’s Found was only ninth in last year’s Arc but later reversed that form with winner Golden Horn in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. However, she’s only won once this year – a five-horse Group 3 at the Curragh – and was beaten more than four lengths by Postponed in the Coronation Cup at Epsom so the best 7/1 with Betway looks short enough. But the filly still finished ahead of Epsom and Irish Derby winner Harzand in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown when Dermot Weld’s colt hinted that he may have had enough for the season.
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Current Best Odds
Postponed (15/8), Makahiki (6/1), Found (7/1), Harzand (15/2), New Bay (12/1), Order Of St George, Left Hand and Silverwave (20/1), Highland Reel (25/1), Savoir Vivre and Talismanic (40/1), Migwar, One Foot in Heaven, Siljans Saga and The Grey Gatsby (66/1), Vedevani (200/1)
