Horse Racing Betting Tips: Sea can show she’s a Class act in the Arc
AFTER being run at Chantilly for the last two years during the redevelopment of Longchamp, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (3.05pm) returns to its rightful home on Sunday.
Europe’s most valuable horse race was won in emphatic fashion by the John Gosden-trained Enable 12 months ago and she’s back to defend her crown.
The mighty Treve became the first horse since Alleged in the late 1970s to record back-to-back victories in the race when she won for a second time in 2014 and Enable is a best-priced 11/10 to repeat those heroics.
Last season’s success capped a five race Group One-winning season, but injury has kept her on the sidelines for most of the last 12 months.
It was only four weeks ago we saw her back on track for the first time since that memorable October afternoon in Chantilly, and the truth is she looked every bit as good.
She readily saw off the challenge of useful yardstick Crystal Ocean in what was little more than an all-weather gallop.
Her supporters will hang their hopes on the fact she is bound to improve for that outing, arriving in Paris fresher than her opponents.
However, winning another Arc on only her second start of the campaign is a massive ask and she is plenty short enough in the betting while still on the comeback trail.
I’d prefer to take her on with the rapidly-improving SEA OF CLASS who could well be bigger on the PMU (French Tote) than the best-priced 7/2 currently on offer.
The daughter of 2009 Arc winner Sea The Stars only made her racecourse debut when beaten at Newmarket in April, but she hasn’t looked back since.
A run of four consecutive wins have followed, including Group One successes in both the Irish and Yorkshire Oaks.
She has handled each step up in class in her stride and her ability to quicken up off a fast pace looks the ideal Longchamp attribute.
Fillies and mares have a tremendous recent record in the race, having won seven of the last 10 renewals, and Sea Of Class and Enable look the two standout contenders this year.
The home team haven’t won their own prize in four years and the best chance of a native success looks to be Waldgeist for Andre Fabre.
He looks a different animal to the one that was beaten at odds-on at Ascot this time last year and it is hard to see him not hitting the frame.
He beat stablemates Talismanic and Cloth Of Stars relatively comfortably in the Prix Foy last time and it is hard to envisage either of those two reversing that form.
Aidan O’Brien has his team in great form and relies on St Leger winner Kew Gardens.
He’s proved he is up to the task having won a Group One over this course and distance already this season.
The worry is whether he quite has the class to mix it with the two fillies at the top of the betting and he looks another in the mix for minor honours at best.
French Derby winner Study Of Man has a bit to prove now stepped up in trip, but is classy and is one of the more interesting outsiders.
He looked a three-year-old with real promise at Chantilly in June and if you can forgive him two relatively disappointing starts since, he could outrun his odds.
POINTERS SUNDAY
Sea Of Class 3.05pm Longchamp