Long-range picks: ante-post fancies for the 2022 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe

Entries for the 101st running of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, arguably the most prestigious race in European Flat racing, have been made with 86 in contention for the big race on October 2, but where might the early the value be in the ante-post market? Our experts give their long-range fancies here . . .

2022 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe entries and betting

Walk Of Stars

By Graeme Rodway

Ante-post odds: 50-1 with bet365

Walk Of Stars (left): chased home United Nations at LingfieldCredit: Edward Whitaker

A lot of water will go under the bridge before the Arc and there's a chance this could all go pear-shaped if Walk Of Stars fails to make his mark in Group 1 company over the summer, but I think he might.

He was beaten in the Lingfield Derby Trial last weekend by United Nations, but was definitely the best horse in that race and it was just inexperience that cost him.

He was slowly away, ran green throughout and then wandered all over the place when trying to get alongside the more professional winner.

Don't forget Adayar was beaten in that race last year for the same stable before going on to win the Derby and running in the Arc.

It wouldn't be the biggest surprise if Walk Of Stars proved capable of making a similar amount of progress once he learns to race properly and he's 50-1.

Alpinista

By Robbie Wilders

Ante-post odds: 33-1 generally

I sense Sir Mark Prescott was rueing not running Alpinista in last season's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after a brilliant campaign in which she was four from four and landed three Group 1s.

In August she conquered Torquator Tasso, who went on to score at Longchamp, in excellent style in the Grosser Preis von Berlin. Higher-profile European targets surely await now.

Alpinista goes well fresh and could be poised to return in the Coronation Cup at Epsom in June, after which general 33-1 Arc quotes could be long gone.

She is an out-and-out 1m4f mare, goes on any ground and has surely been underestimated in the betting with all roads likely leading to Paris.

Pyledriver

By Owen Goulding

Ante-post odds: 50-1 generally

Pyledriver: winner of the Coronation Cup in 2021Credit: David Davies (Getty Images)

Older horses do not have an exceptional record in the Arc, but Pyledriver is a horse I really like and the William Muir and Chris Grassick-trained globetrotter can surely make his mark in Paris.

He has aged like a fine wine, posting a career-best effort to win the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Epsom last June and was an unlucky loser of the Sheema Classic earlier this year, at least in my eyes.

He will relish the strong gallop that an Arc usually provides and although he would prefer a better surface, he does have some form with cut in the ground, if it goes that way. As long as it doesn’t come up truly soft, I think he has a huge each-way chance in a race tailor-made for him.

Teona

By David Jennings

Ante-post odds: 33-1 with William Hill, 25-1 generally

A filly won the Arc in 2016, 2017 and 2018 and Teona could do it for the girls in 2022 as well.

The imposing daughter of Sea The Stars might be four, but I'm convinced we haven't seen the best of her yet. She was still a baby in the Musidora and Oaks last year, pulling far too hard in the early part of both those races, but she grew up as the season progressed and there was no fluke about her Prix Vermeille victory over the odds-on Snowfall.

She concluded her campaign with a fine third in the Breeders' Cup Turf and everything points to her being even better at four than she was at three. She is 25-1 for the Arc and that looks at least a few points too big to me.

Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Longchamp, October 2

William Hill: 8 Hurricane Lane, 12 Luxembourg, 14 Stone Age, 16 Shahryar, 20 Adayar, Coroebus, Titleholder, Torquator Tasso, 25 bar

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