Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe: Alpinista and Luxembourg handed plum draws for ParisLongchamp feature
Luxembourg has been handed a kind draw on paper in stall 8, with Sir Mark Prescott's Alpinista closer to the rail in stall 6; 2021 winner Torquator Tasso has a trickier draw in 18; watch every race on Arc weekend, live on Sky Sports Racing
Thursday 29 September 2022 11:20, UK
The best of British and Irish look to have good draws in Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, with Luxembourg in stall 8 and Alpinista close by in stall 6.
The draw was made on Thursday morning by Sky Sports Racing's Katherine Ford, with Irish Champion Stakes hero Luxembourg nicely positioned for Ryan Moore and trainer Aidan O'Brien.
Sir Mark Prescott's Alpinista, chasing an eighth straight victory, is closer to the rail in six, where five winners have been placed since 2000 including Sea The Stars, Enable and Dylan Thomas.
- O'Brien hoping Arc favourite Luxembourg gets good ground in Paris
- Japan's Arc dream 'within reach' as Titleholder heads to Paris
Coral-Eclipse winner and leading French hope Vadeni is in stall 2, while Irish Derby winner Westover is sandwiched between Luxembourg and Alpinista in seven.
Japanese star Titleholder is in stall 10, with Aidan O'Brien's other runner Broome - a Royal Ascot winner earlier this year - out in stall 14.
But that draw isn't as tricky as defending champion Torquator Tasso's, who has been positioned all the way out in stall 18 and will need to rely on luck and a fast start from there.
"I was quite happy to see that I didn't get a very outside draw. I was hoping to have a draw between the middle and the inside and that's what we have," Soumillon told Sky Sports Racing.
"It depends how the track will be on Sunday. We are waiting for a lot of rain on Friday night and Saturday morning, so it just depends on the track really.
"Each jockey will take their own decision after a few strides and hopefully the pace will be good.
"The rain plus the distance is a little worry for us - we don't really know if the horse is going to handle it. It's a test for him, but I'm sure the way he finished last time he should be good.
"The track was soft in Ireland and the horse is much better in these conditions now, so he should give us a great result.
"He has a great turn of foot and a lot of quality, which is the most important thing you need in a big race like the Arc."
Watch every race from ParisLongchamp this weekend, only live on Sky Sports Racing.
