The Aidan O’Brien Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe runners ahead of Sunday’s big Longchamp race – which is the richest horse race in Europe – are starting to take shape as the top Ballydoyle handler looks for his first win since 2016.
As we head into Arc week, all eyes will be on the Aidan O’Brien runners as he looks to whittle down his five entries to a more manageable squad for Sunday’s race.
It was eight years ago, in 2016, that Aidan O’Brien last won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, when his star filly Found was guided home by Ryan Moore, who was winning the race for a second time after taking the prize in 2010 on Workforce.
The final Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe runners for the richest horse racing contest in Europe will be out on Friday 4th October, with the race run two days later on Sunday 6th October this year.
At this stage the Aidan O’Brien runners are spearheaded by his Irish Derby winner Los Angeles, who is his shortest priced entry with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK.
He also still has Auguste Rodin entered, and even though there have been some rumours of him running if the Longchamp ground dries out – his main target still looks to be the Japan Cup on November 24th, before retiring to the Coolmore Stud.
Auguste Rodin has won on soft and heavy ground in the past, but his best form has been on quicker. The Arc ground was ‘good-to-soft’ last year, which would have been perfect for Auguste Rodin, but connections missed out as his best form figures have come on quicker ground.
The Ballydoyle camp are keeping their options open in case the ground dries up significantly – but, as mentioned, Rodin’s main target still remains the Japan Cup.
Despite Aidan O’Brien having five Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe entries in the days leading up to the race, these runners are expected to whittle down to a few main players.
These are last season’s St Leger winner Continuous and this year’s Irish Derby winner Los Angeles.
Continuous gave Aidan O’Brien his seventh St Leger winner in 2023 and when Jan Brueghal won the Doncaster classic this year, the Ballydoyle handler now has eight wins in the race.
His 4 year-old was a fine 5th in the Arc 12 months ago too – beaten just 3 1/2 lengths (watch below), so that Longchamp track experience will be a big plus.
This season he’s only been out three times, with one of those outings a win in the Group Three Royal Whip Stakes back in August.
He’s expected to be joined by Los Angeles, who will get the3 year-old allowance and will head to Longchamp having won five of his seven starts.
One of those wins was the 2024 Irish Derby at the Curragh in June – while his two defeats have been a top third in the Epsom Derby to City Of Troy and a close fourth to Economics in the Irish Champion Stakes in the middle of September.
“The plan is for Los Angeles and Continuous to go to the Arc. Kyprios will go for the Cadran. If Opera Singer goes, it will probably be for the Opera.” Aidan O’Brien told the Racing Post.
📅Date: Sunday 28th September 2024
⌚Time: 3:00pm
🏇Racecourse: Longchamp
💰Winning Purse: £2,484,348
📺 TV: ITV / Racing TV
Over the years trainer Aidan O’Brien has had many Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe runners, but to date he’s won the prize just twice.
The first O’Brien Arc winner came in 2007 with Dylan Thomas, who was ridden by Kieren Fallon – and was only the second Irish-trained winner since 1979, with the other being Sinndar in 2000.
Since then, O’Brien’s other Arc winner came in 2016 when his classy filly Found provided jockey Ryan Moore with his second win in the big Longchamp race. She recorded the fastest Arc winning time that year too (2m 23.61s), but the race was staged at Chantilly, with Longchamp being redeveloped.
See below the current 18 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe entries, with the final runners set to be out on Friday 4th October.
Note: These are correct from Mon 30th Sept, with the final entries out on Friday 4th October.
