Events / Matt Gardner / 30 September 2011 /

On Saturday, Longchamp begins it much awaited Arc meeting, and Timeform take a look at the feature races on the card...

The first of the main events on Saturday is the Prix Chaudenay, a Group 2 for three-year-olds over a mile and seven furlongs. Won last year by the Francois Doumen-trained Celtic Celeb, this year's renewal appears to be a rather tight affair, with most of the small field having fairly unexposed profiles.

Arguably the strongest form in the race comes courtesy of Shankardeh. Shankardeh found only Meeznah, who has since gone onto win the Group 2 Park Hill at Doncaster, too good in a Group 3 at Goodwood on only her fourth start and looks to have plenty of scope for improvement. She could face stiffest competiton from Gaily Game, who has won three of his four starts to date, with two wins at listed level, and could make a successful transition into pattern company. Two of the remaining three are closely matched following their latest outing, with just a neck separating winner Pacifique and second Miss Lago. Bernieres completes the line-up.

The second big race is the Prix Daniel Wildenstein, run over a mile. Saeed Bin Suroor has a particularly good record in this race having tasted success four times in the last 15 years and will be hoping that Rio de la Plata can make it five. Second to Excelebration in the Prix de Moulin last time (beating Rasjaman and Royal Bench, who reoppose here), Godolphin's six year-old would look to have a good chance of bringing the Godolphin team further success.

Chief among his rivals is Set the Trend, trained by Andrew Balding, who finished second to Dubawi Gold in Goodwood's Celebration Mile last time.

The Prix de Royallieu is a Group 2 over one and a half miles, open only to fillies and mares, won last year by Maria Royal.

Whilst that Alain de Royer-Dupre-trained filly has failed to make the final field this year, the trainer is represented by Shamanova, who has been third in three starts in pattern company since winning a listed race in June. She had been a possible for the Prix du Cadran.

Completing the field is Modeyra, who aims to give Saeed Bin Suroor a third win in this race, Sea of Heartbreak , who runs in France instead of her initial target, the EP Taylor Stakes at Woodbine, and Miss Crissy.

The Group 2 Prix Dollar looks to be an exciting renewal this year, with a number of horses having shown good form this season in the line-up. Among the principals is Famous Name, trained in Ireland by Dermot Weld. The six year-old has proven particularly consistent this year, visiting the winner's enclosure on four occasions whilst not being out of the first three in his other three starts.

Godolphin's French Navy has created a big impression in Britain on his two starts, having previously being trained by Andre Fabre in France. His latest win suggested he deserved a crack at a bigger target, and this could be an ideal opportunity for him. Other runners to note would be Byword, winner of the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes at Ascot last year and Cirrus des Aigles who won this race last year and has only been beaten once this season, when second behind Arc fancy Sarafina.

Timeform Race Cards for Arc weekend are available now from timeform.com.

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

:

:

:

?

: