2022 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe: top trainers on their Longchamp chances

Sunday: 3.05 Longchamp
Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Group 1) | 1m4f | 3yo+ | ITV/Sky

The Arc has always been the ultimate destination for Luxembourg. His journey to France may have been delayed in a few places and there was also a detour to the Royal Whip at the Curragh along the way, but he is here now and he is favourite.

Not since Camelot in 2012 has there been a Ballydoyle-based favourite in the Arc. He was only seventh to Solemia and, while Found led home a 1-2-3 for Aidan O'Brien in 2016 and Dylan Thomas did the business under Kieren Fallon in 2007, two Arcs is not a lot for the master trainer, who has dominated so many Group 1s all over the world.

O'Brien has won the Derby eight times, the Irish Derby 14 times, and between Ireland, Britain and France he has won a 2,000 Guineas on no fewer than 26 occasions, so it is hard to believe he has yet to win the Arc with a three-year-old. Until now perhaps.

Luxembourg was unbeaten as a juvenile, winning the Vertem Futurity on soft ground at Doncaster on his third outing, and there was plenty to like about his fine effort in the 2,000 Guineas when third to Coroebus on his first start at three. An early stumble had him on the back foot there.

A muscular injury ruled him out of the Derby, a race he was ante-post favourite for, and he needed a month of box rest for it to heal.

O'Brien has said he had to do unnatural work to get him back on track, but he has taken it all in his stride and a workmanlike Royal Whip win followed by an Irish Champion Stakes success that was both classy and courageous has teed him up perfectly for D-Day in Paris.

O'Brien said of Luxembourg: "Everything has gone well. Everything is good. It's a case of so far, so good. We've been very happy all the time since Leopardstown. Everything has gone as good as it could have gone at this stage. We've been very pleased with all his runs and he really put his head down and fought to the line in the Irish Champion."

On the ground he is likely to face, the trainer said: "I don't think anybody wants extremes of ground and we are the same, but he did run on soft in the Vertem Futurity at Doncaster last year."

It will be Luxembourg's first try over 1m4f, but O'Brien doesn't envisage it being a problem. He said: "We always felt he was going to be very comfortable at middle-distance trips. We were very confident going to the Derby with him. You're never sure. You worry about everything and you think about everything, but we always felt it shouldn't be a problem."

O'Brien is also represented by Hardwicke winner Broome, the mount of Wayne Lordan.

Of his second string, O'Brien said: "Broome is in good form and is a very solid horse. He's had another good campaign."
David Jennings

'Alpinista possibly has the best form'

Since starting out as a trainer in 1970, Sir Mark Prescott has only once had a runner in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, yet he has never before had a horse like Alpinista, the magnificent mare who attempts to deliver a victory that would be cheered throughout British racing and beyond.

It was 21 years ago that Foreign Affairs finished tenth as a 42-1 outsider under George Duffield. Connections never really fancied him to do much better, but Alpinista is an altogether different sort of animal, comparable to Foreign Affairs only in that both were bred by Kirsten Rausing.

Alpinista also races in Rausing's silks, colours Luke Morris has worn when driving her to five consecutive Group 1 triumphs, the first three in Germany – in one of which she defeated last year's subsequent Arc hero Torquator Tasso – the fourth in France and the most recent at home in Britain, where she confirmed herself a genuine Arc player by winning the Yorkshire Oaks.

That has left Alpinista vying for favouritism and leaving Prescott in a position with which he is unaccustomed.

"I always say to win a Cambridgeshire you need to have 10lb in hand – I'm better at that than I am working out what's needed in Group company," said Prescott.

"I think she quite possibly has the best form in the book. At some time or other she has beaten nearly all of them or she holds them through collateral form. There is also that tantalising hope she might improve again. Alternatively, she might have reached the glass ceiling. I honestly don't know the answer, but I do have a feeling that, to date, she has run a little bit better in every one of her last seven races.

"Number six historically seems to be a good spot, but three very hot rivals are all around us, so they are in a good spot. Unfortunately, there is also this ghastly statistic that the last five-year-old mare to win was in 1937. Even by my standards that's a fair while ago."

Prescott, who is hoping no further rain falls at Longchamp, added: "If she could win it would probably be the high spot of my training career, other than interesting records like Masafi winning seven races in 17 days or Misty Halo winning 25 races as a mare. They were great days but they were only really great days for me. I don't suppose many other people thought they were all that good. If you win the Arc, however, everybody notices.

"The truth is that if I had known Alpinista was going to win five consecutive Group 1 races, I wouldn't have cared about the Arc. If she could win the Arc it would be a good wodge of icing on the cake and a bit of marzipan as well."
Lee Mottershead

'I'll be disappointed if we're not in the first three'

Frankie Dettori will rely on defending champion Torquator Tasso to provide him with a record-extending seventh Arc, but they must first overcome a challenging draw.

The five-year-old caused a 72-1 shock last year when powering through the heavy ground to deny Tarnawa by three-quarters of a length for German trainer Marcel Weiss and jockey Rene Piechulek, who due to his retainer will ride Mendocino here.

That opened the door for Dettori to partner Torquator Tasso in the Grosser Preis von Baden last month, when he finished a head behind Mendocino, and in the Arc.

Torquator Tasso began his season ominously when finishing down the field in a Baden-Baden Group 2 but bounced back at Hamburg, winning the Group 2 Grosser Hansa-Preis, before lining up in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in July, when he showcased his versatility in finishing two and three-quarter lengths behind Pyledriver on good to firm ground.

Dettori was given a 14-day ban for overusing his whip aboard Torquator Tasso at Baden-Baden, but connections have stuck with him here.

Weiss said: "This is obviously a different situation to last year when we were much more relaxed going into the race as relative outsiders aiming to be in the first three. This year he is among the favourites and if we're not in the first three I'll be disappointed.

"Immediately after Baden-Baden we made the decision with the owner to stick with Frankie. He agreed there and then."

Torquator Tasso is in stall 18 of 20, but his jockey has previous when it comes to defying difficult draws. Dettori won from stall 15 aboard Sakhee in 2001 and was drawn wide in 14 when giving Golden Horn a masterful ride in 2015.

You have to go back to 1989, when Carroll House struck from stall 16, to find a winner drawn wider than that pair, while only seven horses in the 102-year history of the race have defended their title.

Torquator Tasso is prominent in the market behind the Sir Mark Prescott-trained Alpinista and Luxembourg, and while Weiss is aware of the challenge facing his runner, he believes softer conditions at Longchamp could play into their hands.

"I have a lot of respect for Alpinista – who has been prepared exclusively for one day – and Luxembourg, while you shouldn't underestimate Mendocino," he said.

"Ultimately the ground will play a big part and stamina could be key. Looking at his work he is in exactly the same shape this year as he was before the Arc when he won."
Jonathan Harding

Rouget hopes Irish Champion run has put Vadeni spot on

Away from the extraordinary controversy that has engulfed the Aga Khan's retained jockey Christophe Soumillon, Jean-Claude Rouget has been quietly preparing Vadeni for what is an unexpected date with destiny in the Arc.

For much of the season the son of Churchill has been one of the pre-eminent forces in Europe over ten furlongs, and Rouget appeared happy to follow the Almanzor route of Irish Champion Stakes and then the Ascot equivalent.

However, both he and the Aga Khan's team have shown a flexibility in their thinking all season, starting with the decision to eschew a traditional quiet French summer for a crack at the Coral-Eclipse, a change of heart which reaped wonderful rewards as Vadeni outsprinted his rivals up the Sandown hill.

Vadeni has pleased Jean-Claude Rouget in training at Deauville and has 'a leading chance if he stays' according to his trainerCredit: Edward Whitaker

Rouget always maintained the Arc would be an option should Vadeni's owner-breeder decide so, and a combination of a slightly unlucky defeat to Luxembourg and Onesto at Leopardstown and the hope that the weather would cooperate and provide good ground at Longchamp persuaded all concerned to roll the dice here. The absence of Baaeed may also have helped, although the Aga Khan's racing manager Georges Rimaud admitted earlier this week that the gamble on the going may not have paid off.

"The most important thing for me is that both Vadeni and my other horse Al Hakeem are well, and they are," said Rouget. "I hope the ground doesn't go heavy.

"If you look at Vadeni's pedigree, he is out of a mare by Monsun, a stallion who implants plenty of stamina. Of course I can't be sure he will stay, but if he does, he has a leading chance.

"The Irish Champion is a great race for putting speed into a horse and I knew going into the race that I hadn't worked him too hard and that it would bring him on."

This last piece of information should be taken as more than a hint.

After plenty of years trying, Rouget found the key to winning the Arc with Sottsass, who sharpened up for Longchamp when fourth in the 2020 Irish Champion.

Should Vadeni triumph on his first try at a mile and a half he will be the first to do so in the Arc since Saumarez in 1990, a comment which also applies to his stablemate Al Hakeem.

Of Al Hakeem, Rouget said: "I'm more convinced of his stamina than of Vadeni's. He ran a very good race in the Prix du Jockey Club where he was upsides Onesto. We've deliberately come here fresh."
Scott Burton

Titleholder leads high-quality Japanese challenge

If there is one horse in the 2022 Arc line-up who has improved beyond all recognition this year it is Titleholder.

According to France Galop's handicapper, Titleholder is not just the highest-rated among four Japanese-trained challengers but the best horse in the entire race.

He comes into the Arc with two dominant performances at the top level. He dispatched the reopposing Deep Bond and a host of other good horses over 2m in the Tenno Sho before showing he was just as effective over 1m3f when carrying all before him in the Takarazuka Kinen in late June.

On both occasions his relentless galloping style left his rivals gasping for air, and if the son of Duramente is to succeed where his compatriots have previously come up short, it seems almost certain to be in swashbuckling front-running style.

Another Japanese challenger, El Condor Pasa, attempted the same trick in 1999 when only a top-notcher in Montjeu denied him inside the final furlong.

Helissio was the last horse to make all in the Arc 26 years ago, but few of the quality of Titleholder have tried to be as bold since then.

Asked if he would feel compelled to make the running in the Arc, Titleholder's rider Kazuo Yokoyama said: "That's a good question. The horse will decide at what rhythm he wants to run and I will just adapt."

Yokoyama may be riding in his first Arc – as are Rob Hornby on Westover and Bauyrhzan Murzabayev on Mare Australis – but he gained a feel of the Longchamp track when jetting in from Japan two weeks ago for a single ride in a Class 2 race over a mile.

For Titleholder's trainer Toru Kurita, this is also a first Arc experience, and one which he is determined to make the most of.

"Titleholder has made enormous progress this year, both mentally and physically, and that is the reason for his improved performances," said Kurita.

"It was the owner's choice after we discussed it together. The trials are quite close to the race, and even though he had a long break over the summer, he arrived here with a good base to his preparation.

Kurita added: "It's difficult to put a number on it with the unknown about how the ground will ride, but he is getting better and better and he's coming just right for the race."

Titleholder would not only be creating history for Japan were he to triumph, he would also be the first horse with winning form over 1m6f or further to land the Arc since Gold River in 1981, while no horse has won in modern times off a break which stretches back longer than the 71 days from the King George.
Scott Burton

What they say

John Gosden, joint-trainer of Mishriff and Mostahdaf
Two things we have no control over are the draw and the weather. We have managed to get outside draws for both which is not ideal and I expect they will handle soft ground but not heavy, which it may well be. Both have been training well up to the race but face difficult tasks.

Andre Fabre, trainer of Mare Australis
He's been training quite well recently and the surface will suit him. He will run a good race. I have missed having Pierre-Charles Boudot and I haven't found a suitable replacement. Bauyrhzhan Murzabayev is a very talented jockey and it's nice to have him for this race.

Pauline Chehboub of Haras de la Gousserie, owners of Sealiway
He has improved for his comeback run in line with the expectations of his trainer Francis Graffard. He is very happy with the horse, who will have his preferred soft ground for the first time this year. He showed up very well in this race last year and we're confident he can run at least as well this year, hopefully even better.

William Haggas, trainer of Alenquer
He'll run a nice race. Whether he's good enough, I don't know. He's drawn wide enough in 12. He's not short of speed, but he won the King Edward VII on heavy ground last year so I'm not worried about the trip, I think he needs it now. In the Tattersalls Gold Cup he only got there in the dying strides.

Ryuji Okubo, trainer of Deep Bond
Last year he ran in the Foy and that cost him too much strength and energy in the Arc. This year we have avoided that situation and it is working well. He's had a long break since his last run and is in great shape. His preparation has gone flawlessly and he is in better condition than he was before the Arc last year.

Yoshito Yahagi, trainer of Stay Foolish
He's a very average work horse in the mornings, but he always surprises in the afternoons and I'm expecting another surprise in the Arc. He was only 60 per cent ready in the Grand Prix de Deauville and, to my eye, he looks to have come on a lot since then.

Sarah Steinberg, trainer of Mendocino
It was a surprise [at Baden-Baden] because we went there thinking that a place in the first three would be good and that it was unlikely we could beat Torquator Tasso. But he had the perfect trip and of course the best jockey on board! He can be a bit stressed so we ran him with earplugs in and he will have them again in Paris. We're confident of a good run.

Mikel Delzangles, trainer of Bubble Gift
He is very well and has come on plenty for his comeback run. He is much stronger than he was last year and the soft ground won't bother him so we're going there with plenty of ambition, albeit it's a very tough race.

Gianluca Bietolini, trainer of Grand Glory
She is very well in herself and I'm pleased with her, while the ground makes no difference. As always, the key will be what pace there is in the race. They went too slow for her in the Vermeille. If they go fast it will really suit her, but if they don't, we could be in trouble.

Fabrice Chappet, trainer of Onesto
He ran a remarkable race in Ireland where the fast pace allowed him to really play his trump card, his ability to accelerate. He has come out of the race well and worked well on the Reservois on Monday. In terms of the ground, I hope it doesn't get extreme. I expect there to be plenty of pace on with the Japanese horses to the fore.

Ralph Beckett, trainer of Westover
He's got a good draw, I've been pleased with preparations and he won't mind it if it rains. He's been training well since his break and is in good shape. He's a big horse and I'm happy with him physically. He'll wear a red hood to post and I have no concerns.

Yasuo Tomomichi, trainer of Do Deuce
Having gained experience of Longchamp was important and he has tightened up since the Prix Niel. He did his main piece of work ten days before the race with Yutaka Take and then just a light breeze this week. I came here with Makihiki six years ago, but since then I've learnt a lot and am now training better horses.
Reporting by Lee Mottershead, David Jennings and Scott Burton

Longchamp ground: testing conditions expected

Longchamp officials are expecting testing ground once again for the Arc after the forecast rain moved closer to the time of the race.

Clerk of the course Charles de Cordon said: "The rain never arrived on Friday night but now we are expecting some on Saturday night and again on Sunday afternoon. I think we'll be racing on ground that reads around 4.0 [very soft].

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Read our previews for Arc day . . .

Big-race analysis: the world's race with a French flavour: how this year's Arc is set to play out (Members' Club)

1.15 Longchamp: 'We're very hopeful' – Murtagh's confidence in leading Lagardere contender

1.50 Longchamp: can experienced horses take advantage of their draw in the Marcel Boussac?

3.50 Longchamp: 'All she wants is rain and she'll get it' – Haggas sounds right note for Opera

4.25 Longchamp: could the draw be key again? Big-race pointers for the Abbaye

5.00 Longchamp: 'He's in the right shape' – Kinross back in search of first Group 1 victory

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