Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Tips - Hukum to shine in the 2023 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is one of the most prestigious and lucrative horse races in the world. It is held every year on the first Sunday of October at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris, France.

The race is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older and covers a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles) on turf. The race was first run in 1920 and was named after the famous monument that commemorates the French soldiers who fought in World War I. Since then, the race has attracted some of the best horses from Europe and beyond and has produced many champions and legends of the sport.

The Arc, as it is popularly known, is the highlight of the European flat racing season and the ultimate test of stamina, speed and class. The race is part of a two-day festival that features eight Group 1 races, including the Prix de l’Opera, the Prix de l’Abbaye, the Prix du Cadran and the Prix Marcel Boussac. The race also serves as a qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Turf, which is held in November in the United States.

The 2023 edition of the Arc promises to be a thrilling contest, with some of the top horses from France, Britain, Ireland, Germany and Japan among the 16 runners declared. The current favourite is Ace Impact (3/1), an unbeaten colt trained by Jean-Claude Rouget who has won five races in impressive fashion, including the French Derby and the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano. He will face a stiff challenge from Hukum (9/2), a five-year-old gelding trained by Owen Burrows who has won both his starts this season, including the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. Another strong contender is Westover (13/2), a four-year-old colt trained by Ralph Beckett who was second to Hukum in the King George and has since won the Juddmonte International Stakes at York.

Other notable runners include Continuous (7/1), the winner of the St Leger Stakes at Doncaster who will represent Aidan O’Brien; Feed The Flame (8/1), the winner of the Grand Prix de Paris who will represent Pascal Bary; Bay Bridge (14/1), a progressive three-year-old colt trained by Sir Michael Stoute; and Through Seven Seas (20/1), a Japanese raider trained by Tomohito Ozeki who has won three Group 2 races in his homeland.

The Arc is a race that often produces surprises and upsets, so it is wise to look beyond the favourites and consider some of the outsiders who could spring a shock. One such horse is Luxembourg (25/1), a three-year-old filly trained by John Gosden who has won three of her four starts this season, including the Prix Vermeille at Longchamp last month. She showed a good turn of foot to beat some of the best fillies in Europe and could be a dark horse in the Arc. Another horse worth considering is Al Riffa (33/1), a three-year-old colt trained by Joseph O’Brien who has won two Group 3 races in Ireland this season and was fourth in the Irish Derby. He has plenty of stamina and could relish the testing conditions at Longchamp.

Our tip for the Arc is Hukum, who we think has the perfect profile for this race. He has improved with age and has shown his class and versatility this season. He has a good draw in stall six and should get a good position behind the pace. He has a strong finish and should be able to outstay his rivals in the final furlong. He also has an excellent jockey in Jim Crowley, who knows how to ride him to best effect. We think he can give Owen Burrows his first Arc winner and reward his loyal supporters with a handsome payout.