Neil Morrice Paris Longchamp ARC undercard Best Bets –Sunday, 5 October 2025

PARIS LONGCHAMP ARC UNDERCARD BEST BETS SUNDAY

Race 1 QATAR PRIX MARCEL BOUSSAC (Group 1)

No7 DIAMOND NECKLACE (Nap)
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Christophe Soumillon

It’s taken French Derby winner St Mark’s Basilica a while to find his stride as a stallion but in DIAMOND NECKLACE he looks to have produced a peach. In spite of a tardy start she stamped her superiority in telling fashion to remain unbeaten in a Listed contest at Leopardstown, and in doing so showed she can handle some dig in the ground. She’s up against a doughty opponent in the Christopher Head-trained GREEN SPIRIT who is looking to make it five successes on the bounce, but just as strong a threat may be AYLIN, a product of the same sire who got the trip well when edging out her foes in the May Hill at Doncaster.

Prediction: 1st DIAMOND NECKLACE, 2nd Aylin, 3rd Green Spirit

Race 2 QATAR PRIX JEAN-LUC LAGARDERE (Group 1)

No5 PUERTO RICO
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Christophe Soumillon

After a series of near misses PUERTO RICO really got his act together to storm home in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster. While it looked a muddling affair, there can be no denying the son of recently deceased Wootton Bassett was in total command n the final furlong and he can show with a follow-up success that it was no fluke. NIGHTTIME is looking to stretch his winning sequence to four for the Head stable and could make it a Wootton Bassett exacta, but the fly in the ointment to both of these is RAYIF, a beautifully bred son of Sea The Moon and one whose Deauville Group 3 triumph makes him appear very smart.

Prediction: 1st PUERTO RICO, 2nd Rayif, 3rd Nighttime

Race 3 PRIX DE L’ABBAYE DE LONGCHAMP LONGINES (Group 1)

No12 SHE’S QUALITY (Each Way)
Trainer: J Davison – Jockey: J Ryan

This is its usual wide open affair in which global traveller ASFOORA holds obvious claims to add to her laurels. But to achieve that the mare needs to put a below par effort in Ireland behind her, and one just as likely to earn is SHE’S QUALITY. The selection meets none of the trio that beat her in a blanket finish to the Group 1 Flying Five, while her previous efforts stand up to the closest inspection. Take out a bad day at the office in the Nunthorpe and her previous four near misses were all gained at Group level. If ever a sprinter deserved to put a big one on the board it’s her. ASFOORA has it to do with the selection on Flying Five form, and while she could easily bounce back others that deserve respect are FROST AT DAWN and MONTEILLE. Frost At Dawn was only just behind ASFOORA when third in the Nunthorpe and at the respective prices offers better value. Furthermore she is more likely to put in a true run than her Australian opponent. MONTEILLE is unexposed and has the advantage of the rail draw under top pilot Cristian Demuro. Her claims rest largely with her Group 3 Petit Couvert triumph over the course and distance last month. That however was a career best and it would seem folly to leave her out.

Prediction: 1st SHE’S QUALITY, 2nd Monteille, 3rd Frost At Dawn, 4th Asfoora

Race 4 QATAR ARABIAN WORLD CUP (Arab Group 1)

No3 AL GHADEER
Trainer: Francois Rohaut – Jockey: Christophe Soumillon

AL GHADEER is the leading horse in this discipline, won the race in 2024 and has the legendary Soumillon in his saddle. He should extend his impressive winning sequence at the main expense of old adversary KINGMAKER and HM ALCHAHINE.

Prediction: 1st AL GHADEER, 2nd Kingmaker, 3rd HM Alchahine

Race 5 QATAR PRIX DE L’ARC DE TRIOMPHE (Group 1) (already sent)

Race 6 PRIX DE L’OPERA LONGINES (Group 1)

No9 JANUARY
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Christophe Soumillon

JANUARY somehow managed to avoid Group 1 glory when looking the winner of Deauville’s Prix Rothschild everywhere except on the winning line. The Kingman filly then appeared to have a rare off day in the Matron Stakes, but can put that Leopardstown reverse behind her at the expense of her compatriot WEMIGHTAKEDLONGWAY. The latter put in a career best when second in the Irish Oaks. She has no Minnie Hauk to worry about and is in great form following her mid season break for Joseph O’Brien. SEA THE FIRE claimed a cheque against males in the Juddmonte International as well as the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot. Her third in the Nassau at Goodwood is another solid formline for her to bring to the table. TAMFANA’s stable struck with a Listed winner at Saint-Cloud on Friday who is her occasional galloping companion and that augers well for a big run from last season’s Sun Chariot Stakes winner, who on her day is top class.

Prediction: 1st JANUARY, 2nd Wemightakedlongway, 3rd Tamfana, 4th Sea The Fire

Race 7 QATAR PRIX DE LA FORET (Group 1)

No14 ZARIGANA
Trainer: Francis Graffard – Jockey: Mickael Barzalona

A drop in trip is unlikely to phase the impeccably bred Siyouni filly ZARIGANA in another very open heat. Since being awarded the French 1000 Guineas (Pouliches) in the spring she’s been afforded the kid glove treatment deserving of a filly that will seek rich pickings both at home and away at the end of the season/year. MORE THUNDER is perhaps the most improved horse in training in England, and following his Group 2 Hungerford Stakes success needs just a bit more to justify his position as race favourite. William Haggas’s charge should get onto the podium, while MARANOA CHARLIE ran well in the Group 1 City Of York and has few miles on his racing clock. He threatens to get into the shake-up along with Andre Fabre’s upwardly mobile SAJIR, while at a very big price German raider GEOGRAPHY can’t be completely ruled out.

Prediction: 1st ZARIGANA, 2nd More Thunder, 3rd Maranoa Charlie, 4th Sajir