'We’ve seen a wave of money for Benvenuto Cellini' - punters turn to Aidan O'Brien runner in Arc

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Aidan O’Brien may have caught plenty off guard when the jockey bookings for his three Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe runners dropped on the France Galop website late on Thursday evening, but the announcement that Ryan Moore would be aboard Benvenuto Cellini did not take long to influence the betting markets for Europe’s greatest race. 

Benvenuto Cellini fared by far the best of the Ballydoyle trio when revealed to be in stall one at the draw ceremony, while the drying ground also looks to have been a factor in Moore and O’Brien’s decision-making, with the going already having tightened back to only just the slow side of good on Friday morning.  

• Ryan Moore to ride Benvenuto Cellini in Arc after Diamond Necklace handed nightmare draw, with William Buick on Minnie Hauk 
• History shows that Joseph O'Brien is in pole position for first Arc after dream draw 

On Friday Ladbrokes’ Nicola McGeady reported a “flood of money” for Benvenuto Cellini, who they cut to 14-1 from 20.

Diamond Necklace: out to 14-1 for Arc after being drawn in widest stallCredit: Getty Images

Minnie Hauk – the mount of William Buick – has been easy to back after drawing stall ten, while Diamond Necklace and Christophe Soumillon were major drifters after getting 16 of 16. 

Benvenuto Cellini runs in the colours of Peter Brant, an Arc winner with Sottsass in 2020.

Brant is entitled to be cautious in his comments after the chastening effect of the Frankel colt being declared a non-runner in the Derby after getting his leg stuck on the shelf of the starting stalls, but could not hide his enthusiasm for being involved in the Arc once again, having first visited Longchamp in Mill Reef’s year, 1971.

And he is clearly pleased to have Moore aboard the Irish Derby winner.

“He showed us so much in the early part of the year and was pointing towards the Breeders’ Cup,” said Brant at Saint-Cloud racecourse. “Then Aidan felt this was a good place for him, so we decided to go to the Arc and just see how that goes before we go to the Breeders’ Cup.

"He’s a very, very classy horse with a lot of ability.

“I think the Arc is one of the greatest races in the world to win – top three for sure – and anytime you can compete in it with a Group 1 winner, you’ve got to take that opportunity.”

Asked whether his confidence had increased with an inside draw, Brant said: “You always see the luck at the end, if you’ve won, not before.

“But he’s a wonderful horse and I hope he gives a good account of himself, while it’s always great to have Ryan Moore riding your horse.” 

Favourite Daryz also fared well when the draw was revealed, and will break from stall five.

Daryz: seeks back-to-back wins in the ArcCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Ladbrokes were among a number of firms to trim last year’s winner to 13-8 but later on Friday returned him to his pre-draw odds of 7-4.

Drawn six, Kalpana has been the other notable mover and Juddmonte’s King George winner is clear second favourite in several lists, with Maltese Cross having been eased after getting stall 11. 

Having been 16-1 at the start of the week, Bay City Roller is 33-1 with plenty of firms, the drying ground compounded by a wide draw in 15. 

On Friday afternoon, clerk of the course Charles de Cordon said: “The ground was 3.5 this morning [souple, or good to soft in GoingStick terms]. 

“The wind is out of the north today and that usually means no rain for at least four days, while the forecast is dry.

"The ground is currently walking a fraction faster on the Saturday line [15m out] than for Sunday’s, but I would anticipate a penetrometer of 3.4 [bon souple, or good ground] on the first day of the meeting, drying out to perhaps 3.3 or 3.2 for Sunday [the equivalent of good to firm]."

What makes Daryz a champion? Watch our short film about last year's Arc hero as he is prepared for a second tilt at Europe's greatest Flat race. Our cameras have been over to France to film him in his work and to seek insights from those around him, including trainer Francis Graffard, jockey Mickael Barzalona and staff at the Aga Khan Studs who helped raise him from birth.

• Watch Daryz: The Inheritance

• 'It felt like a complete circle, like this perfect moment' - the incredible inside story of the horse born to win an Arc (and maybe two) 

Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, 3.05 Longchamp, Sunday
Coral: 7-4 Daryz, 11-2 Kalpana, Maltese Cross, 10 Thundering On, Varandir, 14 Benvenuto Cellini, Diamond Necklace, 25 Friendly Soul, Minnie Hauk, 33 bar.

Read more . . .

Ryan Moore to ride Benvenuto Cellini in Arc after Diamond Necklace handed nightmare draw, with William Buick on Minnie Hauk 

History shows that Joseph O'Brien is in pole position for first Arc after dream draw 

Confirmed runners and riders for the 2026 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp 

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