Never had a problem with betting on the PMU at Longchamp. A great majority of the staff at the counters speak perfect English and take account of 'our' stupidity and 'drink' intake. I used to take wee 'cards' with numbers and the types of bets written on them; a wee bit pointing and fingerwork usually proved successful. You can bet to win, place, straight and each way forecasts on the PMU. I have to admit that most of my large bets on the 'Arc' would have been Ante Post and placed many weeks before early October. Other large bets would mostly be placed online via my laptop before leaving various hotels. The only exception was the freak year with all the Japanese over to see Deep Impact. The other seven horses in the 'Arc' were available on the PMU at ludicrous odds so I could not help myself; thank goodness! Good luck; you will love it despite the ludicrous increase in entrance charges this year. Either before or possibly more advisable after the track visit the bars and brasseries on Rue d'Auteuil.
We know historically that the French usually only back their own in the Arc, so it looks like a case of which of the home team they are likely to back. As the weight of the money at the track will be British and Irish (assuming many travel when they see the ticket prices!), I think it would be unrealistic to expect Enable to drift on the PMU unless she gets an unfavourable draw or Dettori does the unthinkable and deserts her. Reading on SportingLife.com that Poet’s Word is done for the season with an injury; and possibly might be packed off to stud if owner Saeed Suhail so decides. Current state of the market looks like this: 5/4 Enable 6/1 Sea Of Class 8/1 Cracksman 9/1 Waldgeist 16/1 Kew Gardens 20/1 Crystal Ocean, Roaring Lion 25/1 Study Of Man, Kitesurf, Forever Together, Stradivarius There are at least three there that I figure will not show up; and maybe even more unless John Gosden is running four! So I can see Enable being odds on with the British bookies.
It is very unlikely that you will see anybody setting up to do any illegal bookmaking at the new ParisLongchamp. From what I have read there will be a lot more security people this year (same old terrorism scaremongering). At the entrances on Arc Sunday they will be checking people as they enter and it warns on their website that you should not bring any big bags (presumably women’s ordinary handbags will be okay) as you will not be allowed to take them in but have to deposit them at the ‘left luggage’ office and collect them as you leave.
Stuck to my guns and backed the older Fabre colts (Talismanic and Waldgeist) at 33/1 (each way); comments on Equida suggest both, plus Cloth Of Stars, likely to run. Fabre suggested that Kitesurf might also take part. I might also be tempted to invest in Kew Gardens at 16/1 each way however I will wait for further comments from Aidan O'Brien. My estimate/guess of PMU 'off' prices are: Enable 1.8 Waldgeist 5.0 Cracksman or Sea Of Class 5.5 Kew Gardens 7.5 Kitesurf/Cloth Of Stars/Talismanic - anybody's guess.
Can't see Enable getting beaten, unless something goes wrong and she is retired. Dark horse for me is Waldgeist. If the going is softer than good, I expect Cracksman to show he does have ability and could be the biggest danger to Enable. If he runs it must be because they think he could win it, Whether that would be false hope or insurance in case Enable doesn't fire, who knows. The fascinating one is Sea of Class. How good is she? We'll have to wait until Oct 7th to find out
Sorry to be thick as well. One last thing paid top whack as its probably one an done for us. But we paid to go into zones 4 an 5 but its an eticket. Will we get a badge when they scan them, allowing us in the swankyish stands? Or will we have to show the eticket each time?
'New' course - new system so don't know. Anywho; as a bit of a luddite whose first and only mobile phone is an iPhone 7 which lies in it's box with no contract I am not the best person to ask about technology. Other co-respondents will be able to advise.
I would be very surprised if you don't have to show it as you move between zones (assuming you are allowed to); otherwise you wouldn't need such an expensive ticket. I haven't looked at the options because, at those prices, we won't be going. I will have a look tonight if you don't have an answer by then
Looks like the prices for my May 2019 trip to Auteuil for the Grand Steeplechase de Paris remain competitive; prebooked thru' internet - 6 Euros, OAP (60+) - 8 Euros and 'Tarif normal' - 10 Euros.
I can't make out what tickets you need to get to the paddock/winners' enclosure. Not much detail on the France Galop site
Having not been to the new ParisLongchamp, I thought that the website of the same name would have a layout plan on it. No such luck. I went on the ticket sales site and it has a coloured diagram indicating where the zones were for Arc Sunday but I presume that the parade ring is directly behind the main grandstand. Whether it has moved from its original location is difficult to ascertain. Reading the ‘offers’ it would seem that “Access Parade Ring” is only available to people in the “Finish Line Enclosure” and “Finish Line Gold Stand” (i.e. premium ticket holders); and it was sold out at the time of looking. I notice that they are now doing reduced price ticket offers for online customers and according to this it is €75 if you buy in advance but €85 on the day. The “Finish Line Gold Stand” weekend ticket – price €249 – is sold out. After the shenanigans trying to get across the Channel last weekend, I may never actually visit as I certainly will not be paying €75 for the Arc; and I may jack in going to the races altogether.
Not very clear was it QM. One would have thought that, for each zone, there would have been something to say what was included in the price. Interesting to see how one gets from Zone 1 to Zone 2
Anybody else think Forever Together is being overlooked at 25/1 here, especially if its on the soft side of good
There was an article on www.france-galop.fr which suggested that Kew Gardens and Capri would be the Aiden O'Brien runners.
Have reread the article; no mention of Forever Together however it does not state that it is not being considered for the 'Arc'. The article concerns the 'Brien' horses which ran at Longchamp on 'Trials' day.
I know nothing about the Arc, but I've noticed in quite a number of replays that quite often, the winner seems to come from no further back than maybe four lengths off them on the corner. As a lot of folk are struggling with this year's race, maybe some serious video research might be worth while.
Jeez; when will the field take shape? Nine days to go and cannot even glean hints from www.equida.fr or www.france-galop.fr Enable, Sea of Class, Waldgeist, Cloth Of Stars, Talismanic, Study Of Man, Kew Gardens and Capri seem to be the 'probable' runners. Cracksman and Crystal Ocean seem (very) likely runners however both hold other possible engagements shortly after 7th October. Having reviewed the Prix Vermeille a few times I am becoming interested in Kitesurf (25/1 - each way bet being considered) however the Fillies and Mares race on Champion's Day at Ascot has also been mooted as a target. That takes us down to the 33/1 plus horses. This year there seem no big price chances which appeal to this auld duffer so please, please, please, give me/us some details of intended runners.
Defoe (currently 40/1) is now back in full training and the race is apparently on the agenda, if and it is a big if, conditions end up very soft or heavy.
