Horsebetting.com experts give their three best bets for Arc day at Longchamp on Sunday, October 7. Polydream is a class act, so rates the NAP on the eight-race card in the 7f Group 1 Prix de la Foret. With You has some very strong form to her name, so is the next best bet on the eight-race card in the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera. Ceratonia, meanwhile, looks a solid each-way punt in the the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac that gets proceedings underway, given her connections’ recent record in the race. Find out more by reading our detailed preview and Longchamp betting tips for October 7.Polydream the class act in Prix de la Foret Polydream is a real class act who is in terrific form at present, so is strongly fancied to land the spoils in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret on Arc day at Longchamp on Sunday (17:00). This Freddie Head trained filly has won four of her six starts and those already include victory at the highest level.
The daughter of Oasis Dream was a very smart juvenile, winning her first two outings before finishing a fine second to Wild Illusion in a Group 1 on this card 12 months ago. She got off the mark at the second time of asking this season when only having to be ridden out to readily beat Inns Of Court by 1 3/4 lengths in a Group 3 over this course and distance.
Polydream was then given a break, but looked better than ever when following-up in the 20-runner Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest over an extended 6f at Deauville in August. After racing in midfield, she was angled out to make a move two from home and then ran on strongly to get up close home and beat James Garfield by half-a-length.
The way in which she travelled and quickened was impressive and the front two pulled 2 1/2 lengths clear of The Tin Man, who has since landed a Group 1 at Haydock. It was a most taking display over a trip just short of her best and one which suggested there were plenty more big races to be won with her.
Connections have since given Polydream another short break and that looks a shrewd move as she clearly goes well fresh. She is also unbeaten in two starts over the seven furlong trip of this, so there is simply nothing not to like about her profile. We therefore had to make Polydream the standout punt in our Longchamp betting tips for October 7.With You can call the tune in Prix de l’OperaWith You has some very strong form in the book, so looks decent value to notch a fourth career success in the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera for fillies and mares (15:50) now stepped back up in trip. Like Polydream, this three-year-old hails from the yard of Freddie Head and is a lightly-raced sort who has done nothing wrong this season.
The daughter of Dansili ran an absolute screamer on seasonal reappearance over this course and distance when finding only the ultra-tough and top class Laurens a short-head too good in the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary. She then ran very well behind that rival when keeping on to be beaten just half-a-length in the similar grade Prix de Diane at Deauville.
With You then got back to winning ways when registering and easy three-length success over 1m at the same venue, and lost little in defeat last time out when a keeping on six-length third to the sensational Alpha Centauri over 1m in a very strong renewal of the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois – again at Deauville.
The extra two furlongs in this looks sure to suit and With You should arguably be at the head of the betting given the level of form she has shown. So, at the odds on offer, we had no hesitation in making her our next best bet on the card.Ceratonia has a big each-way shout for boys in blueTrainer Charlie Appleby and leading owner Godolphin have won the last two runnings of the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac, so their representative Ceratonia is of obvious interest in this year’s renewal of the 1m contest for juvenile fillies which gets proceedings underway on a stellar card (13:20).
This daughter of Oasis Dream looked a smart sort when making a winning debut in a nine-runner novice contest at Ascot back in July. After dwelling at the start and being held-up at the rear, Ceratonia made good progress when shaken-up two from home and despite showing distinct signs of greenness ran on really well to beat Model Guest by half-a-length.
She then went down all guns blazing last time out over course and distance when a three-quarters of a length runner up to Rocques in the Group 3 Prix d’Aumale. William Buck was forced to make the running, which was far from ideal, and Ceratonia stayed on gamely after being headed approaching the last.
Given how the race panned out it was a really solid effort, and it looked an ideal prep run for this. She doesn’t have much to find with Rocques, who heads the betting for this, and should be much sharper for that spin. Ceratonia will also hopefully get a decent pace to aim at this time around and be produced late as she was at Ascot.
If that proves to be the case. then it’s hard to see her not making the frame at the very least. Hence she features as the each-way punt in our Longchamp betting tips for October 7. You can also read individual race previews of the Grand Criterium (aka the Prix Jean-Luc Lagadere), the Arc de Triomphe itself and the Prix de l’Abbaye on Horsebetting.com.Your Next Bet
