2021 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Meeting Schedule - Dates, cards and race previews for Longchamp

Jon Vine

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Last updated: Tue 28 Sep 2021 11:22

Jon Vine 28 Sep 2021

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Dates, cards and race previews ahead of the 2021 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe meeting
This famous meeting kicks off at Longchamp on Saturday 2nd October and ends on Sunday 3rd October
Viewers have eight Group Ones to enjoy during this two-day festival
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe headlines Sunday's stacked card

Sottsass winning the 2021 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. (Getty)

The biggest meeting in French horse racing takes place this upcoming weekend. The eyes of the sporting world will be fixed on Paris-Longchamp racecourse, as they welcome a capacity crowd through their gates to enjoy the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe meeting.

During this two-day spectacle, eight Group One prizes will be handed out. The feature race of the meeting is the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the richest flat race in all of Europe.

Here's what flat racing fans have to look forward to during this unmissable meeting.

2021 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Meeting Schedule

Day One - Saturday 2nd October

Time	Title	Status	Trip
12:30pm	Prix Chaudenay	Group 2	1m7f
1:35pm	Prix Dollar	Group 2	1m2f
2:15pm	Prix de Royallieu	Group 1	1m6f
2:50pm	2YO Stakes	Conditions	1m
3:25pm	Prix Daniel Wildenstein	Group 2	1m
4:00pm	Prix Du Cadran	Group 1	2m4f
4:35pm	Grand Handucap des Juments	Handicap	1m2f
5:10pm	Prix Watar Equestrian Club	Handicap	1m2f

Day one at Longchamp features two historic Group One races. The first of those is the Prix de Royallieu, a race for fillies and mares which is run over a testing trip of 1m6f. Wonderful Tonight won last year's renewal of the Prix de Royallieu, and Raabihah could pass up another run in the Arc to enter Saturday's contest.

France's version of the Royal Ascot Gold Cup, the Prix du Cadran headlines the day one card. This historic staying race was won 12 months ago by Tony Mullins' mare Princess Zoe, and this year's Ascot runner-up could square off against Goodwood Cup winner Trueshan when she returns to Longchamp to defend her crown this weekend.

The Revenant won last year's renewal of the Prix Daniel Wildenstein before following up in the QEII on Champions' Day, so that Group Two is certainly worth watching. Two further Group Two races open Saturday's festivities, with both the Prix Chaudenay and Prix Dollar likely to attract classy fields.

Day Two - Sunday 3rd October

Time	Title	Status	Trip
1:15pm	Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere	Group 1	7f
1:50pm	Prix Marcel Boussac	Group 1	1m
3:05pm	Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe	Group 1	1m4f
3:50pm	Prix de l'Opera	Group 1	1m2f
4:25pm	Prix de l'Abbaye	Group 1	5f
4:55pm	Prix de la Foret	Group 1	7f
5:25pm	Grand Handicap des Flyers	Handicap	7f
5:55pm	Prix du Centenaire	Handicap	7f

Sunday's action commences with two historic juvenile races. Colts will open the card in the seven-furlong Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, before a field of top fillies battles it out in the Prix Marcel Boussac. Both races have produced plenty of future Classic winners, so expect the betting for next year's 1000 and 2000 Guineas to be impacted by Sunday's results at Longchamp.

The build-up then begins to one of the most famous sporting events in the world, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Read our full guide to this year's Arc to see the latest odds and our two against the field.

Once the winner of the Arc has been crowned, we move into the Prix de l'Opera, a Group One for fillies and mares held over a 12-furlong trip. Sprinters will then take center-stage in the Prix de l'Abbaye, where Glass Slippers could square off against Suesa, Winter Power and Dragon Symbol.

The sixth and final Group One is the Prix de la Foret, the only Group One race for older horses which is run over a seven-furlong trip. Space Blues could fly the flag for Charlie Appleby in Sunday's renewal, but he'll face stiff competition from the likes of Marianafoot, Midtown and Order Of Australia.