Novellist set to write prelude for Longchamp triumph

Since his impressive win at Ascot in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Novellist has headed the ante-post market for the Prix De l’Arc de Triomphe. But as the colt prepares for a final prep at Baden Baden, now is the time to wade in for the Longchamp showpiece.

Still available at a standout 5/1 at Ladbrokes for the Arc, a comprehensive win in the Grosser Preis Von Baden would surely see the four-year-old’s price shorten by a point or two.

And his trainer Andreas Wohler is confident on his charges chances in the Black Forest contest.

“Novellist is the best horse in the race, and as long as we get a proper race, he should win”, the handler stated.  A price of 1/6 certainly suggests he should have no problems seeing off his four rivals.

A win under stable jockey Eddie Pedroza would complete a hat-trick of Group 1 wins around Europe for the son of Monsun, after taking the aforementioned Ascot race, as well as the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud in France. Rock-solid form that is certainly some of the best around heading towards the big day on October 6th.

This particular route to victory has been replicated twice since the turn of the millenium. Firstly Marienbard under Frankie Dettori completed the Baden Baden-Longchamp double in 2002, before super mare Danedream completed the swoop for the Germans in 2011.

With fellow Arc candidates Al Kazeem (8/1) and Intello (10/1) being taken down a peg or two on their last outings and with three-year-olds Treve (8/1) and Flintshire (5/1) still having something to prove, Novellist’s position at the head of the market could look even more assured at 4:15 on Sunday.

This run in Germany may have only been described as a prep run in order to get the colt 100% for his main engagement, but even then victory should be assured and the 5/1 should be taken now while it is still around.

All odds and markets correct as of the date of publishing