'She could be dismissed too easily' - five horses to note from Arc weekend

Another epic Arc weekend has been and gone but there were many eyecatching efforts on Saturday and Sunday. Our team select their horses to follow from the two-day Longchamp bonzanza.

First, Prix Dollar

A patient approach has reaped dividends with this extremely progressive performer, certainly judged on the way he stormed to victory in the ten-furlong Group 2.

Having finished fourth in the Britannia before claiming a Newmarket July festival handicap, the gelded three-year-old has now struck twice in French Pattern races and looked particularly impressive on Saturday.

This latest success came on deep ground, but his Newmarket win was achieved on a fast surface, which will give connections a free hand when it comes to making future plans.

With his adventurous head, William Haggas is exactly the right person to get the most of an increasingly exciting horse.
Lee Mottershead, senior writer

Noble Truth
Second, Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere

It was a mixed weekend for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby but the trainer was nonetheless delighted with the performance of Noble Truth, who finished second behind Angel Bleu after racing keenly.

Noble Truth: Lagardere runner-up could emerge as an exciting three-year-old prospectCredit: Edward Whitaker

He won the Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes at Doncaster last month and is capable of maintaining a strong gallop but perhaps found the ground a touch heavy, as his two victories came on good to firm.

The winner was suited by the ground and was duly cut to 8-1 (from 12s) for the Dewhurst next week. After finishing less than a length behind him, Noble Truth could be one to follow as a three-year-old.
Jonathan Harding, reporter

Dilawar
Fifth, Prix Daniel Wildenstein

The Aga Khan's four-year-old son of Dubawi and Dolniya – who was fifth in Treve's second Arc and won a Sheema Classic – has been a long-term project under the patient eye of Alain de Royer-Dupre and it might be that the full fruits of that diligence come after the trainer's impending retirement.

Saddled with a desperate wide draw and having only his second start at a mile, he made eyecatching progress while lacking the dash of Real World and The Revenant.

Given he only made his debut at Strasbourg in May, Dilawar could be a horse to travel the world and, while a race like the Dubai Turf would inevitably pit him against some battle-hardened stars, it would be no surprise to see him campaigned at Group 1 level in 2022.
Scott Burton, French correspondent

Third, Prix Daniel Wildenstein

The fact that Novemba was allowed to start at odds of 44-1 suggests that punters have had enough of her losing run and her slightly unhinged front-running antics. But she kept going dourly to finish third, beaten less than two lengths, which was a serious feat of endurance in the conditions.

She was a similarly game fourth in the Coronation Stakes back in the summer, having run away with the German Guineas on her previous start.

She is a serious talent at risk of being dismissed too easily after defeat in a series of challenging circumstances. Hopefully we'll get a chance to show faith when she lines up in something just a smidgen less ambitious.
Chris Cook, senior reporter

Pearls Galore
Second, Prix de la Foret

The Paddy Twomey-trained four-year-old put in a monster effort in the Foret and found only seven-furlong specialist Space Blues too good – surely a Group 1 is coming her way soon.

Pearls Galore (second left): Sam Hendry believes Foret second can claim a Group 1 winCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

She has now come agonisingly close at the top level on her last two starts, beaten a neck in the Matron Stakes, having made an effortless step up in grade following a pair of Group 3 wins at Fairyhouse and Tipperary in the summer.

Pearls Galore has proven her versatility on all sorts of ground, but a return to a sounder surface – and perhaps back at a mile – could bring out the best in her.
Sam Hendry, reporter

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

'He might have won had the pace been stronger' – Arc performances analysed

Torquator Tasso stuns big-name rivals to spring shock success for Germany in Arc

'If we hadn't had so much rain we'd have won' – Weld rues Tarnawa near-miss

Appleby points to lack of pace after Godolphin challenge comes unstuck in ground

'If the winner wasn't 80-1 we'd be saying it was the best Arc for decades'

How the 2021 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe unfolded on testing ground at Longchamp

2021 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe result: where your horse finished

Follow your favourites with our amazing Horse Tracker feature. Add up to 1,000 horses to your stable, filter them and keep up to date with automatic email alerts. Join Members' Club Ultimate now and never miss a winner again!