MONTMARTRE NEW ARC FAV

ZARKAVA replaced at the top of the boards by stable companion.




Montmartre: brilliant winner of the Grand Prix de Paris


MONTMARTRE produced a stunning performance to rout his rivals in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp on Monday night and propel himself to the head of the betting for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Totesport make Montmartre 4-1 favourite for the Arc after he trounced Prospect Wells by four lengths, with the firm's Damian Walker saying: "We couldn't have been more impressed."

Ladbrokes also make the Alain de Royer-Dupre-trained colt their 4-1 favourite and such is the strength in depth that his trainer and owner the Aga Khan have, it was his stablemate Zarkava he replaced at the head of the Arc market, although Coral retain her as their 5-1 favourite with Montmartre 6-1 (from 25). Paddy Power cut Montmartre to 11-2 third favourite (from 25s).

British and Irish hopes failed to make the first three with Doctor Fremantle, fourth in the Derby at Epsom, filling the same spot under Ryan Moore having broken slowly at the start.

Christophe Soumillon always had Montmartre handily placed as Ballydoyle's William Hogarth and his own pacemaker Sindajan cut out a strong pace.

Soumillon's mount hit the front over two furlongs out and once the rider changed his hands Montmartre surged clear.

His four-length winning margin over Prospect Wells, who stayed on well from the back of the field to beat Magadan by a half-length, would have been more but for Soumillon easing down in the closing stages.

The jockey could face a tricky choice between Montmartre and Zarkava this autumn but for now was savouring that prospect.

Soumillon said: "He's a perfect sort for the Arc and he was born to win the race. I'm not going to comment on which horse I will ride as I have three months to decide. Both Zarkava and him are out of the ordinary.
"He was very tense before the Jockey-Club and it wasn't his trip. Today with pace over a mile and a half he showed his true quality."

The one blip on Montmartre's record was in the Prix du Jockey-Club at Chantilly where he finished 15th of the 20 runners, a run his connections blamed on him getting upset by the racecourse atmosphere, and he showed signs of nerves again before Monday night's race.

De Royer-Dupre said: "We always knew he was good and that's why we ran him directly in the Jockey-Club after a maiden. It's a wonderful problem to have when you have two horses which could run in the Arc de Triomphe."

Stablemate Zarkava is unbeaten and the Aga Khan said: "It is possible that we could go into the Arc with two horses after this victory and Montmartre is clearly a colt on the way up.

"We always knew he was good but he's not easy to train. He got a little nervous in the parade but was fine afterwards.

"Alain has done a fabulous job. We wanted to set a good pace to help him relax."

The first three home had all finished unplaced in the Jockey-Club and Pierre Yves Bureau, racing manager for the Wertheimer Brothers, owners of Prospect Wells, said: "He ran very well and it was a different story from the Jockey-Club. The distance suited him but he was a little out of his ground."

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for Khalid Abdulla, the owner of Doctor Fremantle, said: "He ran a very decent race but we missed the kick which made it difficultfor himself. We were beaten by a good horse and have no complaints."

Curtain Call could only finish tenth under Frankie Dettori and part-owner
Jimmy George said: "Frankie said he travelled very well and he was in a perfect position but didn't pick upon the ground, it was disappointing."

Any SA horses possibly going to run here?

Good morning Puffin, the only possibilities were Archipenco, Linngari and Sun Classique and in reality only Sun was going for the race.

so afraid to say the answer to your question is NO, for which I regard as the greatest race on the planet to win.

GROUND conditions at Longchamp could dictate whether Alain de Royer-Dupre's stable stars Montmartre and Zarkava clash in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Zarkava lost her position at the head of the betting for Europe's richest race after Montmartre blitzed his rivals in the Grand Prix de Paris on Monday.

Of Montmartre, de Royer-Dupre said: "He looks fine, there is nothing wrong with him at this time.

"I didn't think he would win so easily but he did do a very good gallop the day before.

"I had no way of knowing how good the English horses were, though compared against the French horses I was confident.

"We decided before the race to sit close to the pace as we knew he had class so wewanted him close to the leader.

"He has stamina but also he has big acceleration. The Prix Niel will be next, followed by the Arc."
Although de Royer-Dupre admits it is possible both Montmartre and Zarkava will run in the Arc, he has moved to question the latter's ability to handle soft ground in the 12-furlong showpiece.

"It is possible to have both him and Zarkava in the race," de Royer-Dupre told At The Races.

"But we are sure that Montmartre will go on all ground, the soft isnot a problem for him.

"With Zarkava, good to soft would be fine but softer than that could be a problem.

"It is very difficult to compare them because they never gallop together but they have both galloped with Sageburg over a mile and with the same weight. They both finished in the same position."

So should we have a go with PEG?

Lets see how his prep goes.....

Good afternoon Puffin, have taken the liberty to have Jay Peg put in the betting for the ARC with Betfair, should I request 5000/5?

The call is yours......if he's fit enough we'll try to be there.....explain the 5000/5 tks

Good evening puffin, if you go to betfair, horseracing, ante post France arc, you will see the addition of Jay Peg, I have requested a fiver at 1000/1 and the best at this stage on offer is 100/1 for a about 30 quid at the time of posting, so you can have 3000/30

good punting and all the best with the champ.

scotia

Hallo Scotia

Below is a link for Arc betting

Montmartre 4/1
New Approach 6/1
Soldier Of Fortune 6/1
Zarkava 6/1
Youmzain 10/1
Getaway 12/1
Vision D Etat 14/1
Prospect Wells 16/1
Tartan Bearer 16/1
Casual Conquest 20/1
Ask 33/1
High Rock 33/1
Saddex 33/1

Cheers mori but poor prices and where is Duke of Marmalade, should be 12/1.
can get 11/2 the fav, New Approach 13/1, Getaway at 27/1 and Vision at 26/1

Still think if Zarkava runs on good ground, the one to beat, but Jay Peg??????

Scotia,tks and noted...saw the 100/1 and wondered how you got 1000/1....could be the best 5 you have outlayed in your life???