Longchamp Tips - Best bets on Prix du Cadran day

This famous meeting kicks off on Saturday, when two Group Ones and three Group Two races will take place. We've taken a look at each of the five major races at Longchamp on Saturday and picked out our best betting tips on day one of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe meeting.

Duke De Sessa may dominate this betting heat, but 5/4 seems incredibly short for a horse who's only won a Group Three and only run over a trip further than ten furlongs once in his career. I'm happy to take the favourite on with LA MEHANA, who's two-from-two over 14 furlongs. 

Jean-Claude Rouget filly bolted up by six lengths on her first start over a-mile-and-three-quarter in July, and was equally as dominant when beating Sober in a Listed race over the same distance at Deauville last time out. Cristian Demuro's mount has improved massively since being stepped up in trip and La Mehana can take out Saturday's opener.

Three-year-olds boast an excellent record in this Group One, so I'd rather take Sea La Rosa and Verry Elleegant on with one of the younger fillies. Ryan Moore rides Emily Dickinson, but it's Aidan O'Brien's second-string, PEROTAN who intrigues me.

By Churchill and out of an excellent dam in Tanaghum, Perotan made a winning racecourse debut at Bellewstown in July, winning nicely on soft ground over 12 furlongs. O'Brien's filly then won a Listed race over this trip at Down Royal and has since placed fourth in two Group Three contests.

At Leopardstown the last day, Perotan was dead-last turning for home, but picked up as well as anyone to finish two lengths behind Duke De Sessa. Yutaka Take's mount will appreciate the going more than Emily Dickinson and I fancy there's plenty more to come from this improving three-year-old.

A fantastic unbeaten campaign - featuring wins in the Ascot Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup and the Irish St Leger - has helped Kyprios establish himself as the best stayer around. Aidan O'Brien's four-year-old has been on the go since April and been involved in three fierce battles in Group One company. If a long, hard season was ever going to catch up with Kyprios, it would be over two-and-a-half miles on very soft ground.

At the prices, I'll take a punt on improving four-year-old, JOIE DE SOIR. Following a series of high-profile placed efforts, Andre Fabre's filly finally claimed a deserved victory in the Prix du Carrousel back in August, beating Goya Senora by four lengths under a hands-and-heels ride from Ryan Moore.

Goya Senora reversed those placings in the Prix Kergorlay last time out, where Joie De Soir was forced into making the running and only headed in the dying strides. Maxime Guyon won't need to set the pace around Longchamp racecourse, with the keen-going Quickthorn in the field, and Joie De Soir has got the potential to vastly outrun her odds.

Owen Burrows has enjoyed an excellent campaign with his Graded runners and, although I remain a big fan of Lassaut, I don't fancy siding against ANMAAT here.

Last year's beaten Cambridgeshire favourite returned to action with an impressive triumph in the John Smith's Cup at York. Anmaat then destroyed several capable rivals in the Rose Of Lancaster Stakes, streaking clear in the closing stages to win by four easy lengths.

The runner-up, Grocer Jack has since been beaten a neck in another pattern race and fourth-placed Royal Champion won a Listed contest by six lengths on his next starts. Anmaat received an RPR of 121 for that Group Three triumph at Haydock. A similar performance would be more than good enough to land the Prix Dollar.

Erevann comes into this on the back of an excellent run in the Jacques Le Marois and deservedly tops the betting. Progressive British three-year-olds Triple Time and Checkandchallenge are respected too. However, given his record both in this race and on very soft ground, 3/1 about THE REVENANT seems like a very good price.

Francois-Henri Graffard's seven-year-old has won eight of his 12 starts on soft or heavy ground. The Revenant won this race in 2019 before finishing second to King Of Change in the QEII. In 2020, Graffard's star retained his Prix Daniel Wildstern crown and followed up in the QEII. Last year, Graffard's star lost to Real World by a neck in this race and went on to place fourth behind Baaeed on Champions Day.

The Revenant has won both of his starts on soft ground this season and didn't run badly when third behind Dreamloper on quicker going last time out. It would be a surprise if he didn't run another huge race.