Huge boost for Brits as top contender gets a ‘beauty of a draw’ in the Arc de Triomphe
BRITAIN’S hopes in l’Arc de Triomphe this Sunday Arc looked significantly stronger after Bluestocking was drawn in stall three this morning.
Ralph Beckett’s four-year-old, one of the two British runners in the 16 runner field, was supplemented for the £4.3million race on Wednesday at a whopping cost of £100,000.
But the UK’s second representative, David Menuisier’s 40-1 shot Sunway, has to contend with an outside draw in stall fifteen.
The West-Sussex trainer has been hitting the crossbar all season, his colt finishing third in the St Leger, fourth in the King George and an agonising second in the Irish Derby.
Low draws have historically been an advantage at the Longchamp track, and Bluestocking, who will have top jock Rossa Ryan onboard, has been backed into 8-1 from 11-1 already.
The same owner /trainer combination of Beckett and Juddmonte finished a desperate second in the race last year with Westover, who was unable to get his nose in front of the unbeaten Ace Impact.
Speaking to At The Races, a spokesperson for the yard said: “Statistically you want to be low so that’s good.
“Most of the main protagonists in the race are under 10, but from stall three you can do whatever, you can go forward, or you can kick back.
“I’m sure Rossa and Ralph will come up with a plan, and Bluestocking is very versatile. In the Pretty Polly at the Curragh she came from the back.
“She like to get into a bit of a fight. She’s a tough, hardy girl.
“Last year we questioned her resolution a bit but this year has dispelled any doubts about it – she’s very game in general.”
And British punters raved about the draw on X, with one saying: “Fortune favours the brave.”
Another added: “Between Bluestocking and Sosie – both got great draws.”
Another said: “Beauty of a draw for Bluestocking.”
But they had sympathy for the slightly less lucky Menuisier, and one said: “Sunway dealt a shocker.”
Thursday’s final declarations left Aidan O’Brien with two runners, and Andre Fabre’s second favourite, Sosie, with a peach of a draw in stall five.
Joseph O’Brien’s Al Riffa, who most recently won a German Group 1 last time out and has been campaigned all year with this race in mind, was drawn in stall nine.
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