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

The start

A fairly level break with Japanese-trained mare Deidre the tardiest away under Jamie Spencer exiting the gates.

Andre Fabre made a relatively late decision to aim Persian King at the Arc and the classy four-year-old broke from stall seven, moving through to eventually pick up the running and dictate the pace over a new trip.

Enable was the fastest away but Frankie Dettori elected to restrain the wondermare and position her just behind the leaders.

Runners leave the stalls in the ArcCredit: Itv

Halfway

Pierre-Charles Boudot set a steady gallop on Persian King, a move destined to suit the Group 1-winning miler, while outsider Chachnak and last year's third Sottsass were positioned just in behind.

Stradivarius broke from the widest stall of all and rider Olivier Peslier had his work cut out to ensure his mount did not squander too much ground on the outside.

Frankie Dettori would have been happy enough on Enable, not far off the leaders and getting a nice tow into the race off an even pace.

Persian King makes the runningCredit: Itv

Entering home straight

It became apparent the 2020 running of the Arc was going to turn into something of a sprint entering the home straight on desperately tough ground.

The order was largely unchanged up until this point, with Persian King still leading Sottsass and Chachnak as one or two riders started to show their hand.

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe full result

Chachnak slowly started to back pedal and, as Enable began to quicken, the pair made contact.

That ended all place chance for Chachnak, while the treble-seeking Enable was also slightly inconvenienced in a scrimmaging sandwich with stablemate Stradivarius on the outside.

Riders begin to make their moves in the home straightCredit: Itv

A furlong to run

Then the complexion changed quickly. Enable got out of trouble but it became apparent her chances of bringing the house down in Longchamp were evaporating, with the daughter of Nathaniel unable to showcase her trademark sharp turn of foot on the ground.

The Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Raabihah began to make eyecatching headway from off the pace as some runners began to falter.

Stradivarius was plugging on at the one pace and Sottsass began to pass front-runner Persian King.

The three-year-olds In Swoop and Gold Trip began their charges from opposite flanks as it quickly became apparent that only four were a realistic factor.

Sottsass assumes the leadCredit: Itv

The winning post

Persian King kept on resolutely but not quite as nicely as Sottsass and the fast-finishing In Swoop, with only a neck between that pair at the line and a landmark first victory secured for Rouget with the former.

The longtime leader clung on for the bronze medal from Gold Trip in fourth, while Raabihah stayed on strongly and finished two lengths back in fifth.

The result proved a bit of a coup for the French, who were responsible for the first five runners home.

Enable and Stradivarius were well held in sixth and seventh as the British challenge was thwarted.

While it was an impressive performance from Sottsass, the result left us pondering: what might have transpired if the four horses from Ballydoyle were allowed to take their chances?

In Swoop just fails as Sottsass claims the ArcCredit: Itv

More Arc reaction:

Sottsass lands Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with Enable only sixth at Longchamp

'She's been a joy' – Grimthorpe praises Enable as Arc proves one race too many

2020 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe result: where your horse finished and who won

'If the Enable of 2017 showed up she would have won easily'

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