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

So, what did you think of the Arc?

It turned into a horrible, messy, tactical race, but that wasn’t what beat Enable. She just wasn’t at her best on the day and wouldn’t have won even without the bumping and boring.

French races are often run at that sort of stop-start gallop and the home team was best equipped to deal with it. The first five were all French trained, with Enable best of the British.

It didn’t look the strongest Arc ever run before the race and the tactical nature of the contest, coupled with the extremely testing ground, are good reasons to be wary of the form.

Credit to the winner Sottsass, who showed the best turn of speed, but it won’t be a race many will remember with any great fondness and that’s not just because Enable was beaten.

It’s just not nice to see such a top-class race turn into such a messy affair.
Graeme Rodway, tipster

A funny race for a funny year: Graeme Rodway was left dissatisfied with the Arc resultCredit: Edward Whitaker

I thought Sottsass was a typical French-trained winner – a quality middle-distance colt with a proper turn of foot who had been prepared to perfection for the big day on the back of a light campaign.

I’m not sure the ground really suited the winner any more than it did the vanquished, but the slow pace certainly helped him use his change of speed where it mattered and I thought jockey Cristian Demuro was always in the right spot.

Some will say Frankie Dettori was not as well positioned on Enable and, in hindsight, he probably would have dictated matters from the front. But he was not to know they were going to crawl, and I think he was forced to hold her back a bit as she was just too keen.

Personally I don’t think it would have mattered what Frankie had done, Enable wasn’t good enough on the day, not quite the force of old aged six.

She’s been the most remarkably consistent mare, winning all the top races over a mile and a half for four thrilling seasons. The sport has been very lucky to have her.
James Hill, tipster

Sottsass (C.Demuro) wins the Arc beating In Swoop (12)Longchamp 4.10.20 Pic: Edward WhitakerCredit: Edward Whitaker

The race, in many ways, echoed the build-up: very strange.

Persian King, a miler, set the pace and still had enough left in the tank to fight off Gold Trip for third. That tells you all you need to know about the early fractions.

If the Enable of 2017 showed up she would have won easily. Even the 2018 or 2019 version would have got the job done, you sense. For some strange reason, the 2020 Enable could not quicken when the tempo increased.

That said, Sottsass is not a below-par winner by any stretch of the imagination. He was trained with one race in mind this season and kudos to Jean-Claude Rouget for having him cherry ripe on the day.

Colin Keane told me after the Irish Champion Stakes that he would relish a few extra furlongs and softer ground. He wasn't wrong!

With no Ballydoyle representatives in the race, and on off-colour Enable, Sottsass grabbed his chance with both hands. Whether he would have been able to do so had Sovereign or Serpentine turned it into a thorough test remains to be seen.

Despite the underfoot conditions, this Arc was more about speed than stamina and Sottsass had the best turn of foot.
David Jennings, deputy Irish editor

Read more:

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

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

Delight for Rossi as superb Sealiway proves far too good for the rest

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