Arc Day 2021 that is, not the rain.
The going has been classified as very soft and this may impact some of the fields.
And that could happen in the opener the Prix Marcel Boussac for the 2yo fillies as Andre Fabre may scratch the favourite Raclette. She's unbeaten and they probably want to keep it that way. The stablemate Fleur d'Iris and is by Shamardal with a touch of Brazilian in her pedigree. At present she's pm 5/1 and there's another tough filly here in Joseph O'Brien's Agarthe, by Caravaggio, and already a G1 winner in Ireland. Our roughie here is Oscula with Ryan Moore riding for Boughey. She's won on the soft and 14/1 worth a euro or two.
The Prix Jean-Luc Legardere is for 2yos but not geldings over 1400m with 9 runners. Hugo Palmer's Ebro River heads the market on 9/4 with James Doyle looking to continue his good run here on the son of Galileo Gold. Coolmore's Ancient Rome is with Fabre and Barzalona will ride the son of War Front who is on 7/2. Our roughie here is Rocchigiani, a German raider despite the name, from Schiergen-Murzabeyev. He's unbeaten and recently won a G3 in Baden. By Time Test.
We previewed the Arc earlier in the week and haven't seen much to change our view. News that Love has been scratched. Hurricane Lane should like the ground.
The Prix de l'Opéra is for f&m over 2000m. Audarya has headed the market for quite some time now. The Wootton Basetts have been doing very well of late.
We then have the French and German Oaks winners in Joan of Arc and Palmas. They are both on 7/1 with Palmas firming in the market last night as she hopes to keep her "unbeaten" tag. Irish raider Thundering Nights is very consistent and 11/1 could be value.
The Abbaye is always a bit of a free for all and while speed is essential so is luck as it is generally a large field and this year has 15 starters. Suesa is generally the pick on 9/4 for Rohaut-Peslier ahead of Glass Slippers 9/2 for Kevin Ryan and Tom Eaves. We think Berneuil has a great chance and is value at 8/1, and our lovely friend Air de Valse hasn't had much luck in her more recent starts and 33/1 is tempting. She's drawn next to Berneuil so should be able to get a good lead from him.
The Prix de la Forêt has 16 runners over the 1400m and here Space Blues heads the market on 9/4 for Appleby-Buick. However there has been a bit of a move overnight for the improving Sagamiyra who is on 6/1. Njord is one we always like to include and although will need to produce something like his best 16/1 is very tempting. An interesting runner here is the Japanese Entscheiden. We are not sure what he is doing here or in this race but Yahagi-sensei generally has a plan in mind when he travels his horses.
