'Snowfall should be bigger than 5-1' - Maddy and TC answer your Arc questions

Welcome to the Punting Club! Unlike most clubs there's no joining fee or annual charge, and the only criterion for being part of the gang is simple: an appreciation for weekend punting and an enthusiasm for chewing over the big talking points.

Every Friday we – that's Punt regulars Tom Collins, Maddy Playle and Robbie Wilders (Punting Club membership numbers #1, #2 and #3) – will answer your questions on the weekend's racing action, share our best bets . . . and ruthlessly highlight the flaws in each other's arguments. Robbie is back next week.

You can submit your questions via this link each week, but read on to see what we have to say this week . . .

Is Alenquer overpriced at 25-1 each-way? Form stands up from Sandown win over this year's favourite. Great prep run in Juddmonte. Kevin Horsley

Maddy Kevin, Kevin, Kevin. You know me too well. I put up Alenquer for the Arc at 33-1 in my Weekender column back in July and I stand by the fact I think he's got a cracking each-way chance. He was given far too much to do in the Grand Prix de Paris, so don't take that form literally, while the rest of what he's done – beating Adayar at Sandown and finishing second to Mishriff over an insufficient ten furlongs – gives him a great chance to hit the frame. The forecast rain will only be in his favour and after In Swoop, another son of Adlerflug, nearly won the race for me last year, I'll be hoping to go one better!

Tom Alenquer has plenty to find on figures, as well as on form, but there is every chance that he's still improving given he's run just six times. Conditions look sure to suit, so I hope he runs into a place for both yourself and Maddy. Personally, I don't think there's much value offered about any of the big-priced runners in this year's Arc and I'll be sticking to a win-only strategy.

Maddy thinks Alenquer will run a big race in Sunday's ArcCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Snowfall looked impressive before her last run, if that is forgiven, surely she is a massive price for the Arc especially if the ground is soft? Russell Collins

Maddy Sorry Russell, but she's not for me, and I think Tom might agree with me based on what he said on Monday's Postcast. Snowfall is better than she was able to show at Longchamp, but the quality of her form leaves something to be desired if you ask me. This year's three-year-old fillies aren't a great bunch and this will be her toughest task to date.

Tom We might be related (same last name) but we don't share the same view here, Russ! There's no denying her talent and her Vermeille defeat may have come on an off day, but Snowfall would still need to improve on her Yorkshire Oaks and Cazoo Oaks performances to win this year's Arc and I actually think that she should be bigger than the 5-1 currently offered.

If Love wins the Arc on Sunday it will take Frankie Dettori to an unprecedented seven victories in this race. At the prices I believe Love shows great each-way value, but what do Maddy and Tom think? James Gibson-Wynes

Maddy Sorry James, but I think she's that price for a reason, and that reason is mainly the ground. The worst ground Love has run on is yielding and that was when she was disappointing in the Debutante Stakes as a juvenile. She was also beaten on good to soft in the Fillies' Mile. I also wouldn't be surprised to see Frankie go forward on her and help set the race up for Snowfall or Broome, who both stay a mile and a half well. I'd have Chrono Genesis ahead of Love and Snowfall, personally, while she's also arguably better value than Tarnawa.

Tom She certainly has the right jockey on board and would be a real player on her three-year-old form, but she hasn't run to the same standard this campaign and you're taking on trust that she can bounce back. The bookmakers have probably underestimated her at 25-1, but I still wouldn't be rushing to the counter.

Maddy would rather side with Chrono Genesis than Love or SnowfallCredit: Masakazu Takahashi

I can't see an obvious pacesetter in the Arc. Which horses will not be fazed/will be inconvenienced if they don't go a gallop? Mike Williamson

Maddy Great question, Mike, and it's something I've been thinking about too, especially considering the draw. I think James Doyle is in the perfect spot on Hurricane Lane to stride forward like he did in the Grand Prix de Paris, and it will just be a case of how much Doncaster took out of him. Adayar is one of those who could be inconvenienced if there is no pace given he's on the outside and such a powerful horse with a long stride, but there are a few candidates to go forward. Hurricane Lane, Love, Deep Bond and Broome are all possibilities. I'm hoping Tom Marquand rides Alenquer positively, too.

Tom I don't imagine they will go a crawl – they never do in the Arc – but a clustered field could easily inconvenience hold-up performers bouncing from low draws and those situated in the carpark, who may have to navigate a wide course. I'd be pretty confident that Love and/or Broome will try to dictate.

3.05 Longchamp Sunday: Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe racecard

The Arc is my favourite Flat race, my favourite winners would be Dancing Brave in arguably the strongest Arc ever run, Zarkava and Treve. Sunday's race is another great Arc and I'm on Tarnawa at 7-1 and think she will win in devastating fashion. What do you think? Lee Wainwright

Maddy You picked out the right ones there, Lee, and you've got a decent wager as well! Tarnawa clearly has a great chance, but a few notes of caution from me: 1) watch her at the start, as she can be muleish and the occasion could impact this, too. 2) Her highest RPR is only 122, so we have yet to see her post a truly exceptional performance and she gives weight away here. 3) Christophe Soumillon will have to be at his best to ensure she doesn't get stuck in traffic from stall three.

Tom Tarnawa is the horse I'm most worried about given I'm on Adayar – hopefully one of us wins. My main concern for her is the draw, as Maddy has touched on, as she will have traffic in front of her. She's good enough to win, though, and boasts a turn of foot that many can only dream of.

Give us your favourite Arc winner. Mine has to be Sea The Stars – the greatest. JP

Tom Sea The Stars features among my top five favourite horses of all time, so I'd be in agreement with you there, JP. The first Arc I remember watching was Sinndar's 2000 romp under Johnny Murtagh, so he has to feature in my shortlist. I loved Kieran Fallon's courage to scoot up the rail on Hurricane Run in 2005, while we have to mention star fillies Treve and Enable, who did what many couldn't by winning back-to-back editions this decade.

Maddy The Arc has a magic around it unlike any other race, doesn't it? I'm familiar with a lot of the horses who won the race from the 80s onwards as I used to play the old G1 Jockey games as a kid, so I'll nominate Peintre Celebre, who was an astounding racehorse and always seems to get forgotten a bit. An RPR of 137 for his win says it all, and reportedly he beat the track record by 3.4 seconds!

Peintre Celebre: the 1997 Arc hero is one of Maddy's favouritesCredit: Phil Smith

Read more on the 2021 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe:

2021 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe: the runners, the odds, the verdict

'A live each-way player' – three horses who will relish a soft-ground Arc

Longchamp dark horses: four runners who could be overpriced on Arc weekend

2021 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe tips: why this horse can win Sunday's big race

Who will win the 2021 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe based on previous trends?

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