IT’S been a busy week for the bookies with Sunday’s Arc around the corner.
What do they make of the antepost action after the rain fell? And what do they expect to happen in France at ParisLongchamp?
Chad Yeomans – Betway
It’s been a complete shift at the top of the market since the start of the week, with Enable going clear favourite at 6-4 , with Love, who is relatively easy to back out to 5-2.
The combination of soft ground and the booking of Oliver Peslier has been a positive for Stradivarius, who has been very well backed by the Betway punters into 13-2. It’s looking as though Mr Gosden has a very strong hand indeed!
We mustn’t forget that when Enable was beaten in the race last year, the soft conditions were to blame and it looks as though we could have similar conditions underfoot on Sunday. With Frankie on board, she’s sure to be well supported on the day, too.
I don’t think there will be many racing fans who wouldn’t love to see the wonder-mare win her third Arc – apart from our traders!
David Stevens – Coral
Although she has some way to go to match last year’s Longchamp starting price of 1-2, Enable is now a warm favourite to complete a hat-trick of Arc wins.
On the other side of the coin there has been very little love for Love from punters in the last 48 hours, and she is now out to 11-4.
Jon Lees – Ladbrokes
Enable is now our 13-8 jolly with Love all the way out to 5-2. The each-way money has come for Stradivarius who is 6-1 now.
With the going still very soft at Longchamp it is those horses with proven stamina and soft ground form who are being backed to the exclusion of all others, especially Love.
It looks like Enable has won the battle for Arc favouritism, next there is the small matter of winning the race itself.
Paul Binfield – Paddy Power
The ground is the key factor with it currently being described as very soft with more rain forecast – if that’s correct, we think the front two Enable and Love are priced about right at 13-8 and 11-4.
Although the former could shorten slightly with punters looking to join in on that third Arc party.
Stradivarius might contract a bit as well with the terrain in his favour, while there’s been a few quid knocking around for Sottsass and In Swoop.
Barry Orr – Betfair
With an unsettled weather forecast for the Paris area and a continued deterioration of the ground Love has been friendless in a market.
She started the week as our 13-8 favourite but is out to 11-4 with Enable going from 9-4 to 13-8.
Outside of the top two in the betting, Stradivarius is the big mover. He was 14-1 on Monday and he halved in price to 7-1.
We are paying 4 places to each way punters and that would make him an attractive each way proposition.
