Aventure Poised for Arc Triumph Amid Tough Competition

The latest episode of the Weekend Winners panel has highlighted the top contenders for the prestigious Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, set to take place at ParisLongchamp on October 1, 2023. Among the seventeen runners expected to compete, France’s leading hope, Aventure, has been a focal point of discussion, especially given her experience and recent performances.

Currently, Minnie Hauk, trained by Aidan O’Brien, tops the betting market. She aims to replicate the success of the celebrated racehorse Enable, who not only won the Arc but also had a stellar three-year-old campaign, including four Oaks victories. Aventure faces a challenging draw from stall 12, which may impact her race strategy. In contrast, Japan’s Byzantine Dream will start from stall 15, and the former favourite, Kalpana, trained by Andrew Balding, also enters the race with high expectations.

Panel Insights on Aventure’s Chances

Panel member Kate Tracey expressed her loyalty to Aventure, having backed her each-way for last year’s Arc, where she finished second. “I tipped Aventure up ante-post for this year’s renewal a few weeks back,” Tracey noted. She acknowledged that while Aventure did not win the Prix Vermeille, her performance was impressive against a strong favourite, Whirl. Tracey believes this year’s field is less daunting, stating, “When you look at the independent ratings from this season, you can make the argument she is a better, improved model this time around.” At odds of 4/1, she remains confident in Aventure’s potential to secure victory.

Another panelist, Sam Boswell, is reevaluating his choices after previous support for Whirl and Estrange. He has shifted his focus to Daryz, who has a low draw in stall two and is considered to have value at 12/1 each-way. Boswell highlighted Daryz’s recent second-place finish to Croix Du Nord and noted that the horse’s trainer is currently enjoying a remarkable 42% strike rate.

Aventure’s Preparation and Performance History

Declan Rix shared his thoughts on Aventure’s previous Arc performance, noting that her strong finish last year against Bluestocking showcased her potential. Rix pointed out that Aventure seemed to struggle at the start but still managed to position herself well. He emphasized that “given it was a race not run at a strong gallop, it was a reasonable pace and she did really well to get as close as she did.”

Rix also referred to Aventure’s trainer’s comments about her preference for cooler weather, suggesting that her current form may be favourable. “She’s nice and fresh coming here, and we saw that freshness last time out in the Prix Vermeille,” he commented, underlining her impressive performance despite some challenges during the race.

As the countdown to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe continues, Aventure’s supporters are hopeful that she can overcome her draw and deliver a remarkable performance. The anticipation builds not only for her but for all the competitors aiming for glory in one of Europe’s most prestigious horse races. For those interested in a deeper dive into the analysis and predictions, the full Weekend Winners episode is available on the At The Races YouTube channel.