Punters are predicting a Frankie Dettori masterclass riding Torquator Tasso for back-to-back wins in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
No horse has taken the autumn highlight from a stall wider than 16 in recent years, but the top jockey and reigning champion start from 18. Sustained support has led to Ladbrokes dropping Torquator Tasso's odds to 5-1 (from 8-1), as the ground turns in the German raider's favour.
Twelve months ago the colt caused a huge shock by overturning the favourites for an 80-1 success.
Just seven horses have defended their title in the history of the race, but Torquator Tasso's backers hope he can add his name to the roll of honour once again. At shorter prices, prolific mare Alpinista, another runner who enjoys cut in the ground, has been given the nod over the Aidan O'Brien-trained Luxembourg.
"The strongest support in recent days has been for Torquator Tasso, but we think Alpinista will be the public horse and could challenge Luxembourg for favouritism," said Ladbrokes' spokeswoman Nicola McGeady.
The absence of one of the top horses in the world, Baaeed, in favour of the Champion Stakes later in October, opened the race right up.
When is the 2022 Arc de Triomphe and is it on TV?
A maximum field of 20 runners were declared for the contest, run at 3.05pm (UK time) on Sunday, October 2.
The card at Longchamp begins with the 1.15pm, the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, one of four races on ITV's main channel.
Ed Chamberlin, Rishi Persad, Adele Mulrennan, Matt Chapman and Richard Hoiles will be on the presenting team.
There will also be live coverage on Sky Sports Racing for UK viewers.
Arc de Triomphe runners, jockeys, trainers, draw and best odds
1 Mishriff
Trainer: John Gosden, Jockey: Will Buick
Draw: 17
Odds: 33-1*
2 Torquator Tasso
Trainer: Marcel Weiss, Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Draw: 18
Odds: 15-2
3 Mare Australis
Trainer: Andre Fabre, Jockey: B Murzabayev
Draw: 19
Odds: 40-1
4 Sealiway
Trainer: F Graffard, Jockey: M Barzalona
Draw: 15
Odds: 40-1
5 Alenquer
Trainer: William Haggas, Jockey: Tom Marquand
Draw: 12
Odds: 100-1
6 Deep Bond
Trainer: R Okubo, Jockey: Yuga Kawada
Draw: 5
Odds: 80-1
7 Broome
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien, Jockey: Wayne Lordan
Draw: 14
Odds: 80-1
8 Stay Foolish
Trainer: Y Yahagi, Jockey: C Lemaire
Draw: 20
Odds: 100-1
9 Mostahdaf
Trainer: John Gosden, Jockey: Jim Crowley
Draw: 16
Odds: 66-1
10 Mendocino
Trainer: Sarah Steinberg, Jockey: Rene Piechulek
Draw: 1
Odds: 28-1
11 Titleholder
Trainer: Toru Kurita, Jockey: Kazuo Yokoyama
Draw: 10
Odds: 8-1
12 Bubble Gift
Trainer: M Delzangles, Jockey: O Peslier
Draw: 13
Odds: 80-1
13 Grand Glory
Trainer: G Bietolini, Jockey: M Guyon
Draw: 9
Odds: 80-1
14 Alpinista
Trainer: Sir Mark Prescott, Jockey: Luke Morris
Draw: 6
Odds: 11-2
15 Vadeni
Trainer: JC Rouget, Jockey: C Soumillon
Draw: 2
Odds: 9-1
16 Al Hakeem
Trainer: JC Rouget, Jockey: C Demuro
Draw: 4
Odds: 28-1
17 Onesto
Trainer: F Chappet, Jockey: S Pasquier
Draw: 11
Odds: 12-1
18 Westover
Trainer: R Beckett, Jockey: Rob Hornby
Draw: 7
Odds: 10-1
19 Do Deuce
Trainer: Y Tomomichi, Jockey: Yutaka Take
Draw: 3
Odds: 33-1
20 Luxembourg
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien, Jockey: Ryan Moore
Draw: 8
Odds: 4-1
*Best odds at the time of writing
Arc de Triomphe going news and weather
Up to 10mm of rain is forecast on Saturday and conditions will be testing, like they were for the 2021 renewal. Conditions were reported to be soft with just three days to go.
Groundstaff are providing fresh going for the prestigious fixture, one of the biggest meetings of the Flat season.
Clerk of the course Charles de Cordon said: “The ground could get to very soft by Sunday, provided the forecast of 6-10mm of rain on Saturday proves accurate.”
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