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Three Leading Contenders for the Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe

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The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is the most prestigious Flat race in Europe that is open to older horses. This year’s race takes place on October 6 and once against is set to feature a star field, including last year’s winner Enable. Here is a closer look at the three leading contenders to land the contest in 2019.

Enable

Five-year-old mare Enable has prevailed in the last two runnings of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and is bidding to become the first horse to win the race for a third time this year where she is the short-price favourite with the bookmakers at 11/8. John Gosden’s runner returned to action recently at Sandown to claim the Group One Eclipse Stakes, beating her old rival Magical at the Esher-based track. Unfortunately for her connections, she has a few setbacks over the last few years so there were keen not to rush her back this season and she rewarded them at Sandown as she was right back to her best. Enable has had a fantastic career so far which includes victories in the Oaks and the Breeders’ Cup Turf but a record third Arc would help cement her place in history forever.

Sottsass

Sottsass established himself as a leading contender for the 2019 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with victory in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly where he beat the favourite Persian King by two lengths. The French horse is the likeliest chance of providing the home crowd with success this year and he has been one of the most popular horse racing tips for the race since he scored in impressive fashion in the French Derby. His next appearance is set to come in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown over 1m2f where he could take on the likes of Crystal Ocean, Magical and Masar. If he can beat the older horses in Ireland, his odds are likely to be cut further to give his trainer Jean-Claud Rouget his first-ever victory in France’s leading contest.

Anthony Van Dyck

Anthony Van Dyck was Aidan O’Brien’s latest string of horses to be successful in the Derby at Epsom, a win which soon elevated to him to be the leading three-year-old colt in the UK and Ireland. Ridden by Seamie Heffernan, the son of Galileo outstayed a chasing pack on the Downs in the British Classic as he got every inch of the 1m4f trip. The Irish horse started the season at Lingfield where he scored in the Derby Trial. He was unable to follow up his success in the Derby in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh as he had to settle for second place behind Sovereign. O’Brien has won the Arc twice and he will feel he has a great chance with Anthony Van Dyck.
Tickets for the meeting at Longchamp are on sale now if you are planning to make the trip across to France, in one what is of the highlights of the year on the horse racing calendar.#

Featured Image Credit: “Longchamp” (CC BY-NC 2.0) by Titx

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David Johnson

David Johnson is the owner and editor of TSR, and a lifelong sports fan.

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