Which horses will relish the soft conditions on Arc day at Longchamp?

Conditions on Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe day are set to have plenty of ease in them once again, with ground conditions soft, good to soft (in places) on Sunday morning. We've picked out some of the horses to follow who might relish the ground in the big race and on the undercard.

Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (3.05)

Torquator Tasso

Last year's hero looks like he will have conditions in his favour again as he bids to join an elite group of horses who have won the prestigious race more than once.

The Marcel Weiss-trained star relished the heavy ground when causing a 72-1 shock last year and does have previous form on testing ground too, when a neck runner-up in the 2020 Grosser Preis von Bayern on heavy.

However, the five-year-old also seems to perform on any type of ground, as shown when second in the King George at Ascot on good to firm in the summer.

Luxembourg

While Luxembourg faces the toughest test of his career on his first try over 1m4f, if the ground comes up soft it will benefit his chance.

Both of the Aidan O'Brien-trained star's Group 1 wins so far have come on that official going, including when a game winner of the Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster last October.

His brilliant Irish Champion Stakes win – a career-best performance in which he defeated Arc rivals Onesto and Vadeni – came on soft too.

Vadeni

Vadeni's defeat in the Irish Champion Stakes came on soft but he had shown plenty of liking for a bit of cut in the ground in his stunning five-length win in the Prix du Jockey Club.

That was the best performance of his career on Racing Post Ratings, when he posted a mark of 125 with an easy defeat of El Bodegon in the Chantilly showpiece.

Vadeni (green): thrived in soft conditions in the Prix du Jockey Club earlier in the yearCredit: Julien de Rosa (AFP Getty Images)

Vadeni also won a Listed race over a mile on soft ground at Deauville as a juvenile.

Mostahdaf

One of the outsiders whose chance will be done no harm by the soft ground is the John and Thady Gosden-trained four-year-old, who appears to have a mountain to climb on his best form.

Two of Mostahdaf's wins have come on soft ground – both times in Listed company at Sandown – and he proved he stays 1m4f last time when a taking winner of the September Stakes.

While he needs to take a great step up on all his form shown so far, he could be one of those staying on when the going gets tough.

The undercard

Prix Marcel Boussac (Group 1), 1m

The German raider could make her soft ground form count in what looks an open running of the Prix Marcel Boussac.

The daughter of Kingman is unbeaten in two starts to date and posted an impressive RPR of 95 when winning a 7f Group 3 at Baden-Baden by two lengths on her last start.

Her pedigree also suggests conditions should not pose a problem, given Kingman won the 2014 Irish 2,000 Guineas on soft to heavy and that year's Prix Jacques le Marois on soft.

Prix de l'Opera Longines (Group 1), 1m2f

The unexposed My Astra faces the toughest test of her career in this, but has already proven to be a top-class act with give in the ground.

The William Haggas-trained four-year-old burst on to the scene when a 12-length winner of an Ayr Listed contest in May, which came on ground officially described as soft.

She was not disgraced when runner-up in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes on her last start in June on yielding to soft, and she also finished second in a heavy ground Listed race at Saint-Cloud last year.

A Case Of You
Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines (Group 1), 5f

Just like Torquator Tasso, conditions could be once again perfect for A Case Of You in the defence of his crown in the 5f Group 1.

The Ado McGuinness-trained four-year-old narrowly won the race under Ronan Whelan a year ago, and backed that up when winning the Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night earlier this year.

A Case Of You (grey): won a testing running of the Prix de l'Abbaye last yearCredit: Edward Whitaker

He has disappointed on his last two starts, including on soft ground in the Flying Five Stakes last time, but also has a soft ground Group 3 win next to his name.

Kinross
Prix de la Foret (Group 1), 7f

Kinross has developed into a top-class performer on most types of ground, but there is no doubt on his form that some cut could be hugely beneficial as he seeks his first Group 1 win.

The five-year-old is a three-time winner at Group 2 level, two of which have come on soft ground, including when posting a career-best RPR of 122 in his Park Stakes win at Doncaster last time.

Kinross finished fourth behind Space Blues in a heavy ground running last year, but returns in the form of his life and looks well set for a deserved top-level success.

Read our previews for Arc day . . .

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

1.15 Longchamp: square peg in a round hole? The Antarctic tries seven furlongs

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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