Tough going for punters as Enable one of five big-race favourites beaten

Arc day could only be described as a resounding success for bookmakers with Enable one of five favourites to be beaten in the six top-level contests on the Longchamp card.

Betfair Sportsbook faced one of their biggest payouts in Arc history when Enable asserted approaching the final furlong but breathed a sigh of relief along with other firms after Waldgeist pounced late.

The shock Arc result combined with defeats for 9-10 hotpot Battaash in the Prix de l'Abbaye and 6-5 shot Mehdaayih in the Prix de l'Opera ensured it was a day to savour for the bookmakers.

Betfair's Barry Orr said: "When Enable hit the front we were readying ourselves for what would have been one of the biggest payouts in Arc history on the Sportsbook.

"As it turned out, getting Enable, Mehdaayih and Battaash beat was an absolute Klondike for the layers on the busiest Arc day in living memory."

Battaash: well beaten in the AbbayeCredit: Getty Images

Just over £320 was traded at a low of 1.06 on Enable in running on the Betfair Exchange, while £19.24 was placed on Waldgeist at 40.

Coral reported Enable to be the most popular Arc favourite in the past ten years and described it as "a miserable day for backers".

David Stevens, head of PR for Coral, said: "Enable was the most popular Arc favourite since Sea The Stars triumphed ten years ago, but along with punters everywhere we were still willing her to make history and complete the hat-trick.

"Sadly it wasn't to be, and defeats for Mehdaayih and Battaash completed a miserable day for backers."

Victory for the Jessica Harrington-trained Albigna in the Prix Marcel Boussac followed by favourite Victor Ludorum landing the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere meant bookmakers started on the back foot but the tide soon turned.

Mickael Barzalona celebrates Victor Ludorum's success in the Prix Jean-Luc LagardereCredit: Edward Whitaker

Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: "Most racing fans, including ourselves, are probably disappointed Enable didn't enter the annals of racing history as the long-term benefits for the sport would have been truly immense.

"But Waldgeist's stamina meant it wasn’t to be and while it was a very good result for the books, an Enable victory wouldn't have been disastrous for us and we were more concerned about Japan prevailing as we took on the young pretender very aggressively.

"It was great to see an Irish-trained winner of the first, although it meant we started with a losing race. But other than that it was a real bookies’ bonanza and one-way traffic."

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