Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – 2 October 2016, Chantilly

Writing has been on the wall for some time unfortunately. He's always talked about Found having an autumn campaign, but to see the likes of Highland Reel, who is loveable but short of Arc winning level, and Order Of St George rocking up just seems to be a big two fingers up to the Arc to be honest when you've got a horse who has had a season like Minding has.

If she isn't worth a shot at an Arc I just don't know who is, which is where my patience has frankly run thin on the circus that is UK and Irish racing.

And this won't be AOBs decision- so it is no use anyone deriding him.

Looks prime for a French or Japanese runner to take that now.

 

Yeah as always it's the Lads call the shots and they clearly prefer the penalty kick of the Mares race at Ascot Champions weekend. Maybe it was my bias of her but I was willing to forgive her defeat as so many of O'Briens seemed below peak form that weekend, and she wasn't beaten a million miles either way.

I suppose thinking about it I do suspect she's likely better over shorter than 12f as she looked to my eye to be running on empty at the end of a soft ground Oaks but her class over the field saw her home. I think her Guineas win was special, her explosive acceleration really suited the race so I can see the school of thought that the Ascot race might suit her better. The QE2 is also a possibility.

 

Sometimes I wonder how often these horses have their backs checked. Should be done on a regular basis (and teeth); not when something goes wrong. It's amazing how they will carry on with a pain in the back. Best cured before it gets too bad. Amanda learned from our back specialist how to check for tightness so was able to check on a regular basis and call in the specialists when necessary.

 

Wow this is falling apart faster than any of my diy. I see that most of the crookies have gone 1/5 the odds for it so they seem to think there will be eleven or less runners.

 

I cannot claim to be too surprised that Minding is going to be a no-show for the Arc. I had figured that she might go for the ten furlong Prix de l’Opera but it seems The Lads are more interested in Ascot.

Naturally, the absence of La Cressonniere is more of a surprise but the shake-up of the betting does still include a few apparent mug bets:

5/2 Postponed (should show up)
5/1 La Cressonniere (in a couple of places for mugs presumably; entered in the Prix de l’Opera)
7/1 Makahiki (won his warm-up race, definite starter)
7/1 Almanzor (not widely available – heading for Ascot?)
9/1 Found (according to AOB on target)
9/1 Harzand (wait and see how he works early in the week)
14/1 New Bay (he may show up despite lacklustre effort in the Irish Champion)
14/1 Minding (mug bet alert – or are The Lads trying to pull one?)
20/1 Order Of St George (according to AOB on target)
25/1 Silverwave (won his warm-up race, over-priced?)
25/1 Fascinating Rock (presumably depends on how he works with Harzand)
28/1 Highland Reel (according to AOB on target)
28/1 Seventh Heaven (mug bet – not mentioned by AOB; entered in the Prix de l’Opera)
33/1 Left Hand (won her warm-up race, over-priced?)
33/1 Midterm (second to Makahiki – will he be allowed to run?)

 

Even more happy with that now, as long as it's good or softer

 

Soumillon to ride Silverwave!

 

Will anything get near Found is the question. Could be a procession.

 

For second???

 

Half cooked and she nearly won the champion stakes in "race of the season"

 

To be honest she is looking like the best bet of the race to me. Postponed is a bit short for my liking and the rest seem to be a fairly average bunch. It's nowhere near the race it was last year and she would have gone pretty close in that had she got a run in that.

 

Beaten only 5l despite being bumped and then mostly hand ridden. Could argue the form horse in the race if fast ground. If it's good to soft or softer she has no chance against Postponed. Well spotted Doalittle

 

Guess someone else has said this about Channel 4 not showing the Arc this year.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/channel-4-axes-arc-blaming-inflated-media-rights-costs/2149332/#newsArchiveTabs=last7DaysNews

"Channel 4 axes Arc due to ‘media rights costs’"

 

Also on Sky

 

Article here

 

ALMANZOR looks like he may be heading to the Arc now for J-C R.

 

Sky have a three hour programme on Sunday featuring the Arc for those that subscribe to Murdoch Vision.

The realities of their failing Socialist state are coming home to France Galop as betting take falls and they need to find other revenue streams to fund their race calendar. Just as British racing has tried to enhance its media income, the French are having to do the same and the biggest day of the year is obviously going to generate the most money.

Guess I will be watching the football on Sunday afternoon and then getting the race videos online later...

 

Sure someone will let you in to watch it QM.

 

#prayforderkaiser

Disappointing that the two 3 year old fillies we've been hyping up both miss the race