This is one of the nicest days at Longchamp.
You get to see all the top horses without the crowds and get a good look at them. It's not just the Arc that horses are aiming at but some of the other races over Arc weekend as well. The going is soft.
The Prix du Pin is G3 over 1400m and has 10 runners. Exxtra has that little bit "extra" and is on 11/4 for the Lerners and Ronan Thomas. That team could be in for a good afternoon. Raider Mount Athos is on 4/1 for James Tate and Soumillon and Qatar-based trainer de Mieulle will put up Barzalona on Dark Trooper on the same quote – we rather like him.
The Prix Foy G2 over 2400m only has 5 runners and looks like an exhibition gallop for Continuous, with O'Brien giving Soumillon the ride. Odds-on of course. Iresine could be a bit of a challenge if up to his best – on 7/2 for Gauvin-Marie Velon.
The Vermeille is G1 over the same trip for the f&m and here there are 12 contenderes. Bluestocking heads the UK market on 5/2 for Beckett-Rossa Ryan with another raider Opera Singer on 7/2 for O'Brien Soumillon. Topping the locals is Sparkling Plenty on 5/1 for Cottier-Piccone but we like Aventure here on 6/1 – she was 4th in the French Oaks and recently won at G2 level. Guyon rides for Ferland.
The Niel G2 is also 2400m for 3yos and has 6 runners. Look de Vega is in good form and is on 6/4 here for the Lerners-Ronan Thomas. Sosie also has admirers and is on 9/4 for Fabre-Guyon.
The Prix dud Petit Couvert is G3 over 1000m and not surprisingly the field of 15 is headed by raiders. Aesop's Fables is on 3/1 for O'Brien-Soumillon and on the same quote the Richard Hughes trained No Half Measures with Guyon on board. We rather like Electric Storm on 7/1 for James Tate-Piccone.
