Maltese Cross (15:05 ParisLongchamp, this afternoon: Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Group 1, 1m4f)
William Haggas’s colt, with the yard flying at 17% over the last fortnight, ridden by Tom Marquand who’s had every win aboard him. Five wins from seven starts, including back-to-back Group black type at Longchamp and York last time out, with the form reading as strong as anything in this field. The key concern is the draw — stall 11 puts him wide in a race that looks short of early pace, and Marquand will need to find the right position early to get him competitive.
Verdict: Back Maltese Cross to win. The engine’s there to win an Arc, but the draw is the one thing standing between him and the race developing his way. 🏇
