Racing Ahead’s resident tipster Ben Morgan selects his best bets for the weekend’s action at ParisLongchamp, including Sunday’s 2026 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, and Ascot.
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Saturday
Ascot – 3.35 – Hawk set to swoop for compensation
HAWKSBILL was a strong selection in this column two weeks ago when he ran at Ayr and he looked the winner a long way from home.
He looked the winner all the way up the straight but a lack of cover meant George Wood had to kick for home early enough and on heavy ground, that stiff Ayr finish seemed to last a lifetime.
He was worn down by a hold up horse who appeared on the scene late and I was left cursing Wood who would surely want that chance again.
It appears he has that chance again just 14 days later here at Ascot where although the race is much more competitive, the ground and course will be much more to his liking.
I think he is a winner in waiting and at 25/1 he is great value.
I will also mention AALTO who runs on the opposite side of the track to the main selection so covers any potential draw bias on the day.
Ian Williams’ charge is a bit of a regular in these races and although he comes with warnings attached he appears to be in red hot form after an unlucky second at Newbury last time out.
He is a fair price at 12/1.
Ascot – 4.10 – Billy to be the Hero in finale
I think Billy Loughnane might just prove to be the difference aboard GOLD STAR HERO who certainly deserves to get his head in front sooner rather than later.
He hasn’t enjoyed much luck in terms of positional bias recently being on the wrong side of the track or making the running when it suited hold up horses so he is definitely due a change of good fortune.
Loughnane has had a magical year and is riding to a very high standard and his confidence might just make the difference in the last 100 yards here.
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ParisLongchamp – 12.23 – Favourite looks Winday in Prix Chaudenay
An interesting race for three year olds to kick off the Arc weekend in Paris where Pierre Bonard leads the market at 10/11.
His supporters are braver than me as I wouldn’t dream about following him here with so many question marks over trip, form and stable well being at present.
I think the market is currently all wrong and I wouldn’t be surprised to see WINDAY come for some support closer to the off as Emmet Mullins sends him back into battle after a blowout last time at Doncaster.
Unsettled in the preliminaries, it was clearly too bad to be true but the fact he was tried in such a race as the Doncaster Cup suggested shrewd connections thought he was quite smart.
Back against his own age group here I think he is better than a 20/1 shot.
I’d put a small bet on a reverse forecast with him and Jabracadabra who impressed me last time when powering away in a Listed event.
This is a big step up but I think he will relish the trip where others might not.
Sunday
ParisLongchamp – 1.15 – Moore often punter’s Best Friend in Lugadere
Folsom Blues is a short price favourite after his rout in the National Stakes at the Curragh but I don’t think he will have things all his own way here.
MAN’S BEST FRIEND is well named being out of classy mare Pandora and I’m hoping we can strike up a friendship in Paris on Sunday.
An impressive winner at Goodwood when everything went wrong, that performance convinced connections to have a dip at the Morny which they tried to turn into a stamina test in order to suit this lad.
However, his wheels were spinning as the taps were turned on and he just couldn’t run fast enough but he did stay on nicely to finish fourth, which suggested to me he is certainly ready for 7f now.
I think he is a live player here at 8/1.
ParisLongchamp – 1.50 – British duo have the Abbaye between them
I feel like I have tipped NAANA’S SHADOW 20 times this season but what a mare she has proven to be.
Every time she faces a new challenge she improves and keeps defying pessimists like myself.
She is now favourite for this race after her dominant course and distance performance last time out.
If she performs to that level again I think she will have a good chance of Group 1 glory.
However, there is a sneaking doubt in my mind that she might just get caught late on by a horse like RUMSTAR who certainly would deserve a race like this on his CV.
Jonny Portman’s stable star has danced every dance this summer and has performed every time which is impressive in itself.
The drying ground and the lack of proven Group 1 horses here might just swing the race in his favour so I am happy to split my stakes between the two.
ParisLongchamp – 3.05 – Maltese Cross to create history in Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
No horse has won the Arc from stall 11 and it is somewhat typical that the horse I have fancied for some time for this race has been drawn there.
MALTESE CROSS has done nothing but improve all year and certainly looks a worthy challenger here against proven older horses like Daryz and Kalpana.
Unlucky to not have won a Derby but classy enough to have won everything else, connections have chosen this as his end of season target given the favourable weight for age allowances he receives.
The turn of foot he has shown in his last two starts will certainly come in handy here as from stall 11 he is going to have to use some pace somewhere but I have plenty of faith in the horse and I am confident he rates a strong each way bet despite a market drift on the back of the result of the draw.
PICTURE: Alamy
ParisLongchamp – 3.50 – Miss Scott to shine in Prix De L’Opera
Aventure is the class act here but she does have a tendency of finding one too good and I wouldn’t be piling in on her with that in mind.
John Gosden runners should always be respected here and I find it interesting MISS SCOTT is sent over for what would be her toughest test to date.
I thought she was very impressive the last day and with natural improvement to come I think she is a big player here at tasty odds of 8/1.
READ MORE: 2026 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe: Crack the Longchamp code through the draw
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