There's a group of horses who are always underestimated in open Arcs like this one

Even though the Prix de l'Arc Triomphe has become the world's favourite turf race, domestic runners have still done better than the average. The reason is not because France has the best middle-distance horses, nor that the Arc is in some way biased towards the French. It is more that the French are biased towards the Arc.

If Economics or City Of Troy were trained in France, they would not be going to Ascot or Del Mar. They would be coming to Longchamp. It is important to view this year's French challenge, and that of the three-year-olds in particular, through this lens.

Out of the three-year-old colts Sosie, Delius and Look De Vega, only the last of those has anything like the star quality Ace Impact carried into last year's race. His route to this point has been similar but he was a bit less impressive in the Prix du Jockey Club. While both were ring-rusty on their respective Arc prep runs, Ace Impact managed to win, while Look De Vega was only third in the Prix Niel.