Kevin Blake, a seasoned analyst of the flat racing world, will be on the ground in Paris for the prestigious Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and has highlighted three promising contenders on the supporting card, all of which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing. The Qatar-sponsored weekend at Longchamp, streamed by Sky Sports Racing, is universally recognised as one of the marquee events in the global racing calendar. The main feature, the Arc itself, takes place at 3:05 p.m. on Sunday and is flanked by a series of high‑quality Group 1 contests that often produce their own stories and future stars.
Recent weather patterns have been unusually dry, leaving the turf firm to good. In racing parlance, that translates to a surface that is fast enough to reward speed but still offers enough give to suit horses with a turn of foot. This condition will be a key factor in the outcomes of the undercard races. **Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp – Longines (1:47)** The sprint over 1,000 metres, run at 1:47 on Sunday, has not produced the strongest fields in the last few years, but one variable remains constant: the importance of the draw.
A low stall can give a horse a tactical edge, especially in a short, fast race where positioning is everything. Blake therefore backs the Francis‑Henri Graffard‑trained filly SHIRI, who starts from stall four, a draw that should allow her to settle comfortably and unleash her acceleration in the final furlong. SHIRI is a daughter of the stallion Mehmas and has shown a marked improvement in sprint distances this season.
After being stepped down to five furlongs, she captured a Listed victory at Deauville in convincing fashion and then ran a respectable second to Naana's Shadow in a Group 3 over the same distance at Longchamp. The combination of her recent form, the favourable draw, and her proven ability to handle the firm ground makes her a very credible contender for the win. **Prix de l'Opera – Longines (3:50)** The middle‑distance contest for fillies and mares, scheduled for 3:50 p.m., attracted a field that leans heavily toward three‑year‑old talent.
The race is currently led on paper by Aventure, a proven Group 1 performer trained by Christophe Ferland. However, Blake sees an upset in the form of the John & Thady Gosden‑trained MISS SCOTT. MISS SCOTT is a daughter of Night Of Thunder and, despite a carefully managed campaign that has kept her steps small, she has shown steady improvement.
Her most recent effort was a dominant win in the Snow Fairy Fillies’ Stakes at the Curragh, where she displayed both class and the ability to accelerate sharply in the closing stages. Returning to a slightly longer distance should suit her stamina reserves, and while she will need to produce a career‑best performance to challenge the in‑form Aventure, Blake believes the combination of her improving form and a supportive draw gives her a genuine chance to surprise the betting public. **Qatar Prix de la Forêt (4:25)** Often underestimated, the Prix de la Forêt is technically run over a distance that is a little shorter than the advertised seven furlongs, with a significant portion of the course taken on a downhill bend.
The firm ground expected for the day will accentuate the need for speed rather than stamina, turning the race into a true test of a horse’s quickness and ability to handle a fast, undulating finish. Blake’s selection for this race is the Fozzy Stack‑trained youngster THESECRETADVERSARY. This colt, sired by St Mark’s Basilica, has remained unbeaten in three starts over trips of less than a mile this season, including victories in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville. While he has suffered three defeats in Group 1 contests over the mile distance, those losses should not detract from his proven effectiveness on shorter trips.
The combination of a firm surface, a downhill finish, and a distance that plays directly to his strengths makes THESECRETADVERSARY a strong candidate to take the prize. In summary, Blake’s three picks—SHIRI in the Abbaye, MISS SCOTT in the Opera, and THESECRETADVERSARY in the Prix de la Forêt—represent a blend of tactical advantage, recent form, and suitability to the day's ground conditions. As the undercard races unfold, each of these horses possesses the attributes required to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the draw, the firm turf, and the specific demands of their respective distances. Viewers can follow the action live on Sky Sports Racing, where Blake will likely provide further insights as the races progress.