It’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe day at Longchamp on Sunday 5th October and while the feature race is the Arc itself, there’s a quality undercard taking place throughout the afternoon at the Parisien racecourse. With plenty of the action in front of the ITV racing cameras, we pick out our GG Lucky 15 tips for the action in the French capital.
1.50 Longchamp – FROST AT DAWN (1pt win – 12/1 generally)
Runner-up in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot back in June, FROST AT DAWN then ran another fine race to finish fourth in the King George Stakes, while he was a narrow third in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York on his last outing. Hugely consistent for William Knight, the four-year-old filly has the potential to finally get her head in front in the Prix de l’Abbaye at 1.50pm. Likely to gain a tow into the race from the free-running Night Raider, Frost At Dawn could well relish quickening off the fast pace, and while favourite Asfoora is going to be rattling home, she could well just have a big enough leader to strike gold for Britain.
3.05 Longchamp – DARYZ (1pt win – 12/1 generally)
Francis-Henri Graffard can claim a first Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with DARYZ, who can make the most of a low draw and storm to victory for France in the 3.05pm feature. Just touched off by Croix Du Nord last time out, the three-year-old can reverse that form with that Japanese raider, as he’s been given a much more attractive draw and has the class to down that rival here. A winner of his first four races, he was unable to land a blow when last of sixth in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York, but a return to French soil can see him at his best and he could well just outbattle market leader Minnie Hauk in the closing stages of the event.
3.50 Longchamp – JANUARY (1pt win – 8/1 generally)
Placed in a whole plethora of Group races during her career, JANUARY is still searching for a second win, but she can finally land that second gold medal on Sunday in the Prix de l’Opera at 3.50pm. Aidan O’Brien’s three-year-old daughter of Kingman was last seen finishing down the field in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown, but prior to that she was a fine runner-up behind Fallen Angel at Deauville. Second in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket as well this season, she’s been a real model of consistency at Group 1 level and a return to France could see her sparkle again. See The Fire and Tamfana are both class acts on their day, but lack the consistency of January, who can finally get her head in front for the second time.
4.25 Longchamp – MORE THUNDER (1pt win – 2/1 generally)
A real revelation since dropping back in trip this season, MORE THUNDER can end his campaign with more success and he can duly outclass his rivals in the Prix de la Foret at 4.25pm. Narrowly touched off in the Wokingham Stakes when flying late on, the William Haggas-trained four-year-old then bounced back with a nose win in the Bunbury Cup, while he excelled in Group company at Newbury in the Hungerford Stakes last time out. He will need to make sure he doesn’t miss the kick too much and give himself too much to do, but providing he’s within a length or two of the leaders heading into the final couple of furlongs then he can show his customary turn of foot late on to storm to the front.
GG Sunday Racing Lucky 15 Tips From Longchamp For Sunday 5th October