LIVE REACTION: 'She's changed my life' - unbridled joy for Rossa Ryan after Bluestocking's Arc heroics

The knives have been out for Kieran Shoemark since he took the number one job at Clarehaven at the start of the season and victory on Friendly Soul in the Opera - his first top-flight winner as first jockey to John and Thady Gosden - must have been sweet. 

He's been riding well this season despite all the noise and hasn't once reacted to the negative comments aimed his way. This could be the launchpad he's been waiting for. She might even take him to the Breeders' Cup next. Onwards and upwards. 

1. Friendly Soul 9-1
2. Running Lion 28-1
3. Sparkling Plenty 3-1f

A classy response from Christophe Ferland, trainer of Arc runner-up Aventure.  

"She’s run the perfect race, she was exceptional. We had the same fight as in the Vermeille. Obviously there is some regret that we were second but it was a beautiful second in an Arc de Triomphe. When she went after the leader there was a moment when I thought she'd do it but we've once again come across a real racehorse and an exceptional four-year-old filly."

Bluestocking was a well supported winner of the ArcCredit: Edward Whitaker

The Arc winner is 2-1 (from 8-1) for the Breeders' Cup Turf with Coral.

"Bluestocking proved to be the biggest gamble on the eve of this year's Arc, and the confidence behind the mare was spot on. Many punters will have been singing in the rain in Paris as she crossed the winning line," said Coral's John Hill.

Bluestocking and Rossa Ryan win the Arc Credit: Edward Whitaker

Great words from Rossa Ryan on Sky, skilfully articulating what it means to win the Arc on Bluestocking.  

"A horse can really change you life and she has mine," said Ryan. "She broke sharp and has done that all year. I was never in doubt that she'd settle on the front end if she got a lead. I got to fill up where I needed to without getting pestered. Turning in with 600m to run she came alive underneath me and it's hard to stop a train going forward. 

"It's all down to her trainer and the team at home. They've made my dreams come true. To do it on a global stage is what it's all about."

Longchamp racecourse Credit: Edward Whitaker

By Richard Lowther, analyst

Bluestocking, supplemented and representing half of Britain's Arc challenge, is the ninth filly or mare to win the Arc in the last 14 runnings. 

Perfectly positioned by Rossa Ryan from a favourable draw, tracking a solid pace set by Los Angeles, she ran on strongly in the straight to hold off Aventure, who came from further back than the other principals.

Los Angeles might even be a Cup horse and Sosie, in the same ownership as the runner-up, acquitted himself well for fourth. 

Look De Vega was too keen and Shin Emperor wasn't good enough, while Mqse De Sevigne was badly impeded.

He could have said it was never in doubt but that wouldn't be Ralph Beckett's style and he was holding back the tears speaking moments after Bluestocking crossed the line on Sky Sports.

"Good horses train themselves and it's amazing," said Beckett. "I never thought she'd win."

Barry Mahon of Juddmonte added: "What a filly. The job Ralph has done with this filly all year is unreal. She had the prefect trip all the way round. Rossa said he was going to be handy and at the top of the straight I thought it was going to take a good one to beat her."

She's danced every dance this season but on the biggest stage of all, Bluestocking romps to Arc victory for Juddmonte, Ralph Beckett and Rossa Ryan. 

Connections put their money where their mouth is when paying 120,000 euros to add her to the field earlier in the week and they got it right.

Ryan gave her a peach of a ride. Following Ryan Moore on Los Angeles, he was never far from the pace in soft conditions and struck for home at the perfect moment.

She was an 11-1 chance overnight but returned at 5-1 and there should be plenty of people celebrating tonight. 

Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
1. Bluestocking 5-1
2. Aventure 17-2
3. Los Angeles 6-1
Stewards' inquiry

Star filly Bluestocking is popular in the Arc marketCredit: Patrick McCann

Bluestocking's price has collapsed going from double-figure odds to as low as 5-1 now. Al Riffa and Aventure are also very popular. 

"When we sit down early in the season, the first question Prince Saud asks is about what we've got for the Derby and Arc," said Juddmonte racing manager Barry Mahon, who was encouraged by what Bluestocking accomplished three weeks ago.

"The time of the Vermeille was a good bit quicker than the Niel. On that basis she should be competitive and she also ran a good race at York on ground and over a trip that wasn't her optimum. I think that all puts her bang in the mix, and the draw gives Rossa options, so we're definitely going there with genuine aspirations. The one unknown is it's only three weeks since her last race, and until she runs we won't know if the Vermeille has left an effect on her, but everything tells us her she's ready to go again."

Paul Binfield from Paddy Power has been in touch to say his firm is hoping Continuous does not come out top in the Arc. 

Continuous at 33-1 is the last leg of 50p each-way Lucky 15 for one punter, with earlier winners Vertical Blue at 50-1, Camille Pissarro at 20-1 and Makarova at 16-1 the other three in the multiple. It could cost Paddy Power £360,000.  

We have a clear favourite for the Arc, with Sosie into 7-2 in places and Los Angeles out to 11-2. 

Sosie's trainer Andre Fabre said: "He's a big strong horse and wasn't really fit enough in the spring. He's now coming nicely into form – but everybody improves with time." 

If Los Angeles is to give Aidan O'Brien a third Arc, he will need to succeed where a number of exalted stable stars have failed.

Found led home a one-two-three for his trainer in 2016, nine years after Dylan Thomas scraped home under Kieren Fallon. Both those galloped to glory as four-year-olds. A measure of how hard it is to bank an Arc is that O'Brien has yet to do so with a three-year-old.

Continuous, who returns to Longchamp under Christopher Soumillon, was the last to try, finishing fifth last season. Previous Ballydoyle three-year-old colts who came up short include Derby winners High Chaparral, Camelot and Ruler Of The World, while Scorpion, Fame And Glory, Kew Gardens, Japan and Luxembourg were all beaten.

O'Brien, who described stall ten for Los Angeles and 14 for Continuous as "wider than ideal", said: "All is well with both of them and they've done well in the last week or two.

"The Arc has been the plan for Los Angeles since the Irish Derby. We were very happy with his run at Leopardstown. We were hoping if he finished in the first four it would be good enough to run in the Arc, and that's what he did. He's been very good since Leopardstown and his work has been as good as we could have expected.

"Continuous ran well in the race last year and it didn't suit him having to make his own running in the Foy. He will be much better in a stronger run race."

By Lee Mottershead in Paris

Here's the latest on the remarkable situation which has developed around Fantastic Moon, who is now confirmed as a runner in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after the prospect of a €55,000 fine persuaded the horse's owners to reverse their decision to pull him out.

Moreover, the German challenger's connections - who believe conditions are now softer than ideal for last year's Arc 11th - have been told by the stewards the horse must be allowed to run on his merits.

Explaining what has happened, France Galop's assistant director-general Henri Pouret said: "Apparently, the owner said on Twitter that Fantastic Moon would be a non-runner but he was not officially a non-runner.

"We have a procedure that the trainer should fill in a document to say the horse will be a non-runner. That was not done. 

"They asked how much it would cost for the horse to be a non-runner. We told them it would be €55,000, which is a percentage of the total-prize money. Because of the value of the Arc it is quite expensive not to run. The trainer and the owner then discussed it together and, in the end, they decided to run the horse. A reminder has also been given to them by the stewards the horse has to run on its merits."

Makarova beats Bradsell in the Prix de L'Abbaye Credit: Edward Whitaker

By Steffan Edwards, analyst

As is often the case in the Abbaye the race developed towards the inside rail. Makarova got a bit outpaced at halfway but she's always strong at the finish, and she reversed recent Flying Five form with Bradsell, this softer ground really playing in her favour. The runner-up couldn't quite make it three Group 1 wins on the bounce, but it was still a fine effort on ground softer than ideal.

Starlust would have finished closer had he not been hampered against the rail, but he wouldn't have been placed, so strongly did Believing, and to a lesser extent No Half Measures, finish off their races. The former continues to knock on the door in Group 1 company. Perhaps next year.

Having announced he was a non-runner, ITV now understand Fantastic Moon will take his chance. Apparently the announcement was made prematurely and, due to the cost involved with scrapping him from the race, he will now run.

The owner has confirmed to our reporter Scott Burton that he runs.

Understandably Rossa Ryan was not in the best spirits after Starlust was stopped in his tracks during the Abbaye. 

The rider told ITV: "The gap was there but it got slammed in my face."

The stewards are looking at the incident which I doubt will impact the winner.

Billy Loughnane partnered Believing to finish third and added: "She’s run another unbelievably tough race. She broke nice but I wasn’t going well enough early and ended up getting shuffled back through the field. She handled the soft ground but she’s definitely better on a sounder surface. She a star of a filly."

Makarova retires to the paddocks as a Group 1 winner, landing the Abbaye on her final start.

An emotional Ed Walker said: "I'm a bit choked to be honest because it's the last run of her career. It's pretty special. She got a good start today and Tom Marquand nailed it. Longchamp has been good to us and this is a big day."

1. Makarova 14-1
2. Bradsell 6-4f
3. Believing 7-2
Stewards' inquiry

John Gosden has pointed to the softening underfoot conditions at Longchamp as a contributory factor in Field Of Gold's fourth-place effort in the Prix Jean Luc Lagardere.

"He ran a solid race," said Gosden. "He was right up there and travelled well but he got a little bit caught out by the ground. He is a big, strapping horse and very much a next-year horse."