With heavy rain having hit Paris this week, the 2022 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe promises to be another war of attrition and Onesto is our each-way fancy.
Trainer Fabrice Chappet is hoping to give France a third win in four years after opting to stay close to home, rather than heading for the Champion Stakes at Ascot.
Onesto was only fifth in the French Derby at Chantilly back in June, plugging on at one pace behind Vadeni over an extended 10 furlongs.
However, he relished stepping up to a mile and a half when landing the Grand Prix de Paris here the following month, wearing down Simca Mille over the final furlong.
That form has been franked by the runner-up going one better in the Prix Niel, while fourth-placed Eldar Eldarov has since been an impressive winner of the St Leger at Doncaster.
The son of Frankel lost nothing in defeat when narrowly beaten by Luxembourg following a ding-dong battle late on in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, with Vadeni back in third.
Aidan O’Brien’s charge is a firm favourite for this contest but we’re backing Onesto to gain revenge on home turf in our 2022 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe tips.
Vadeni had previously shown his class in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown and is ridden by Christophe Soumillon, who has two Arc wins on his CV courtesy of Dalakhani (2003) and Zarkava (2008).
However, Soumillon admitted: “The rain plus the distance is a little worry for us – we don’t really know if the horse is going to handle it.”
Defending champion has tough draw
Torquator Tasso was a shock winner 12 months ago on bottomless ground and has attracted support in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe odds since the rain came down.
This race does have a history of suiting certain types, so it would be folly to dismiss him, but Frankie Dettori will need to be at his best from stall 18.
Japanese raiders have had numerous near-misses, including the likes of El Condor Pasa and Orfevre, and this is a prize that nation would desperately love to claim.
Winners at the Breeders’ Cup and the Dubai Carnival have shown what a force they are and Titleholder would be rated the pick of the bunch back at home, but he is unproven on soft ground.
Alpinista seems to have beaten half the field at one stage or another during her admirable seven-race winning streak – five of which have been at Group 1 level.
There were those who questioned her initially as the first three all came in Germany, but victories in France and the Yorkshire Oaks have earned her new followers this year.
She goes on all ground, is well drawn in six, is tough and sets a very tall standard to aim at, so Sir Mark Prescott’s mare will feature in many 2022 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe tips.
With a cleaner run, Westover would likely have been second in the Derby and he went on to make no mistake in the Irish equivalent, winning by seven lengths.
Connections then decided to let him take his chance against his elders in the King George at Ascot, but he got into an early battle for the lead and ran no sort of a race, so we’re taking a watching brief on him here.
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