Today’s Listowel fancies:
1.55 List- Tyson Fury (e/w).
2.30 List- Cosmos D’ainay (win).
3.05 List- Blue Reed & Warm In Gorey (e/w).
3.40 List- Withabitofluk (e/w).
4.15 List- You Oughta Know & Spread Boss Ted (e/w).
4.47 List- La Note Verte (win).
5.22 List- Young Doran (e/w).
Established in 1920 and staged in Paris on the Bois de Boulogne, the Arc is a truly international contest attracting runners from England, Ireland, Japan, Italy, Germany and the USA.
In his excellent book “Celebrating a Century of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe: The History of Europe’s Greatest Horse Race“, traces the exploits of many all-time racing legends. From Ribot, Sea Bird, Allez France and Mill Reef, to Dancing Brave, Sea The Stars, Treve and Enable. It’s also a who’s who of the turf starring the Rothschild, Aga Khan, Wildenstein, Wertheimer and Head families, as well as Marcel Boussac, Vincent O’Brien, Lester Piggott and Yves Saint-Martin. The modern era features luminaries such as Andre Fabre, Coolmore, Godolphin, John Gosden, Frankie Dettori and Khalid Abdullah.
Sadly from 2027 onwards, the race with it’s original conditions, will be consigned to history – just like Malcolm’s book!, as officials have voted in favour of allowing geldings to race in France’s great weight-for-age race.
While I appreciate that sport is about competition and sports fans want to see champions clash, I do not feel this should be achieved at the expense of the old Arc bloodlines and the potential disruption of new ones coming along.
I, like many others, have always regarded the Arc as the unofficial “fifth Classic” , slightly different in that it is for horses three-years-old and over, but still excluding geldings. Now the race has become just another internationally recognised middle distance championship race in my opinion, and we’ve already got plenty of those.
When Daryz won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 2025, I absolutely swooned over his pedigree. I listened to an emotional Princess Zahra Aga Khan talk about her late father and how Daryz was “bred to do this” after his victory. Even I felt all mushy inside at the sense of occasion.
I sincerely hope he wins the 2026 renewal too, because I believe he will become a dominant European sire in the coming years, but after him, who comes next? Will we see many more legendary broodmares like Urban Sea and Zarkava, or elite sires like Sea The Stars and Montjeu come out of the race? Will they rue their decision to change the race? I believe all will become clear on the breeding horizon in the next 5 -10 years.
As for myself? Well, after many long years of attending the Arc weekend at Longchamp, my new spiritual flat racing venue going forward will be Doncaster – the home of the world’s oldest Classic.
After witnessing a remarkable piece of history being made by Saffie Osborne in the 250th renewal of the St Leger, I’m pretty content that I’ve decided to divert my attentions closer to home.
In some recent correspondence to a colleague at Doncaster I penned “Because the St Leger now represents the highest tier of Group 1 staying prestige specifically for intact males trying to secure their future value at stud, I shall be in future dedicating my time and support to your feature race, rather than the one in France.”
Au revoir, mon ancien amour
Posted in Blogroll
Tagged Europe, france, history, horses, longchamp, Paris, ParisLongchamp, prix de l'arc de triomphe
Today’s Ayr fancies:
1.20 Ayr- see link above.
1.55 Ayr- see link above.
2.30 Ayr- see link above.
3.05 Ayr- see link above.
3.40 Ayr- see link above.
4.15 Ayr- Golden Souk (e/w).
4.50 Ayr- Son & Cotai Belle (e/w).
Posted in betfair
Today’s Uttoxeter fancies:
2.00 Uttox- Crystal Glance (e/w).
2.30 Uttox- Jentobello (e/w).
3.00 Uttox- Supreme George (e/w).
3.30 Uttox- Maghlaak & Norman Fletcher (e/w).
4.00 Uttox- A Definite Getaway (e/w).
4.30 Uttox- Latin & Northern Rose (e/w).
5.05 Uttox- Sleeping Satellite & Camarrate (e/w).
Posted in betfair
Today’s Haydock fancies:
1.25 Hay- Fondo Blanco (e/w).
1.55 Hay- First Law (win).
2.30 Hay- Reem Rak (e/w).
3.05 Hay- Finalise (e/w).
3.40 Hay- Coppull (e/w).
4.15 Hay- Trilby (win).
4.50 Hay- Rhoscolyn (e/w).
5.25 Hay- Bearin Up & Jungle Ruler (e/w).
Today’s Haydock fancies:
1.30 Hay- Zimmerman (win).
2.05 Hay- Girl Scout (win).
2.40 Hay- Etonnante (win).
3.15 Hay- Tip Foster & Ran Amok (e/w).
3.47 Hay- Secret Mistral & Spoof (e/w).
4.20 Hay- Dream Illusion (e/w).
4.53 Hay- Star Time (e/w).
Today’s Haydock fancies:
1.30 Hay- Star Start & Red Derek (e/w).
2.05 Hay- Austin (e/w).
2.40 Hay- Reflect On Glory (win).
3.17 Hay- Unbeatable Fame & Green Titan (e/w).
3.52 Hay- Powerful Force (e/w).
4.25 Hay- Polygram (e/w).
5.00 Hay- Pol Roger & Blue To Blue (e/w).
Today’s Ripon fancies:
2.10 Ripon- Yermanthere (e/w).
2.40 Ripon- Kumharas (win).
3.10 Ripon- Roman Crystal (e/w).
3.40 Ripon- Spirit Of Applause (e/w).
4.13 Ripon- Mister Sox (e/w).
4.48 Ripon- Garden Oasis & Catton Lady (e/w).
5.18 Ripon- Bollin Neil (e/w).
Today’s Cartmel fancies:
2.35 Cart- Vietnorm (win).
3.10 Cart- Fairlawn Skipper (e/w).
3.45 Cart- Kayf Dancer (e/w).
4.19 Cart- Fairlawn Flyer (e/w).
4.55 Cart- Pour Les Filles (e/w).
5.30 Cart- Forcetoreckonwith (e/w).
I'm Steve Mullington from Rochdale. My blog is about the ups & downs of a regular punter and sports fan. A place to come to share ideas, tips and of course-friendly banter!
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