Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Preview & Tips 2018

The highlight of Longchamp day, and the third of four live races on ITV, is the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – more commonly known as “the Arc” in the UK. Taking place at 3.05pm, it features prize money of €3,150,000, and an unsurprisingly high-class lineup.

We have Longchamp tips for every race on Arc day, but read on for our Arc tips for the big race.

Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Tips

Our selection for the Arc is ENABLE, widely available at 11/10. She has suffered just one defeat in her 9 career starts to date, that back in April 2017 on just her second start. 2017 saw her win five Group 1 races, including the Oaks, Irish Oaks, King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Yorkshire Oaks. Her fifth victory came in this very race, where she stayed on very strongly in slightly softer ground to record a two and a half-length victory.

One mile, four furlongs appears to be her optimum trip, and she returned from an extended break to comfortably win the September Stakes at Kempton last month under hands and heels. That field included Crystal Ocean, twice a runner-up at Group 1 level, suggesting she retains the ability she showed last year.  The going will suit and jockey Frankie Dettori knows how to win this race – he’s looking for his third win in just four years.

Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Preview

The main challengers to our Arc tip Enable are:

Sea Of Class

Claimed two of Enable’s titles this year, taking home the Irish Oaks & Yorkshire Oaks. All top performances have come on faster ground, although connections are clearly confidence as Sea Of Class was supplemented at a cost of €120,000 three days ago. James Doyle retains the ride, but despite getting weight from Enable she’ll need to run a career best to challenge today. She clearly rates as the main danger though.

Waldgeist

Trained in France by Andre Fabre, the third favourite in the betting is more exposed than either Enable or Sea Of Class. The French colt carries 3lb more than Enable, but cantered home in the Group 1 Prix Foy. A strong traveller, if he’s in contention at the two-furlong pole expect him to make a strong challenge.

Kew Gardens

The first string of Aidan O’Brien’s six runners, Kew Gardens receives a handy weight for age allowance as a three-year-old. Ryan Moore was on board when he won the St Leger Stakes last month, and both distance and ground are sure to suit. Whether he is ready for a challenge of this magnitude at this stage in his career is the big question, but expect him to hit the line strongly at the very least.

 Talismanic

Also trained by Andre Fabre (who has a total of three in the race), this colt was no match for Waldgeist last time out. However, he was sent off just 13/2 for the Dubai World Cup in March and finished second in the valuable Hong Kong Vase last year behind Highland Reel. He has every right to improve for what was only his second run since March and could grab a place.

As mentioned, as well as our Arc tips we also have tips for every race at Longchamp tips including the Prix de l’Opera and Prix de l’Abbaye.