Before heading to Paris to cheer on Maltese Cross, Hollie Doyle penned her latest exclusive blog ahead of Arc weekend. I'm on the Maltese Cross team for obvious reasons in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (3.05) at ParisLongchamp on Sunday, live on Sky Sports Racing. He gives my husband Tom [Marquand], his trainer William Haggas and owner George Waud an outstanding chance of winning this great race.
What he's achieved this year has been pretty spectacular and I don't think anyone's seen the best of him yet. The Grand Prix de Paris and the Great Voltigeur at York were only the tip of the iceberg in terms of how good this horse could be. He got roughed up a little in both those races but has a great mind for a three-year-old which will stand him in good stead again in the hurly burly of the Arc, particularly from his wide draw in stall 11.
Last year's winner Daryz will of course be a tough opponent with the draw in his favour and looks to have been produced to the minute by his master trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, but Maltese Cross, whose only defeat came on softer ground in the Derby, will be a huge threat to all. I'd love to see his British compatriot Kalpana make her presence felt, too. After all, Andrew Balding's wonderful mare has proven she can compete against the boys at the top table by winning the King George and was impressive in the Yorkshire Oaks after that.
Green Empress is entitled to take the beating in a slightly disappointing renewal of the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac Criterium des Pouliches (12.31) on Sunday. Joseph O'Brien's filly found only the prolific Sun Goddess too strong in the Moyglare Stakes on her latest start but any chinks in her armour could be exploited by Godolphin's interesting runner Miss Miniver. Never miss a story with all the latest racing news, interviews and features on your phone.
Find out more Though Green Empress's market rival Allela could be anything at this stage, Roger Varian is backing the daughter of Wootton Bassett up quickly after her fourth in the Group 2 Rockfel at Newmarket so this could be a great opportunity to bag a fairly weak Group 1. Joseph O'Brien's excellent season can continue with the progressive Folsom Blues in the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere Longines (1.09) on Sunday. The son of Blue Point lost nothing in defeat behind last weekend's Cheveley Park heroine Sun Goddess in the Pheonix Stakes at the Curragh before returning to take the Group 1 National Stakes in most emphatic style.
He hasn't been blessed with the best draw but has the class to overcome that while James Doyle's mount Imperial Strike looks way overpriced in his quest to reverse Group 3 form with the unbeaten Avec Toi. It would be a great result for racing if Naana's Shadow could win the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines (1.47) on Sunday for Galashiels trainer Katie Scott. See the latest horse racing news, interviews and features from Sky Sports Racing Katie, who trains only a small string, has worked wonders with this grey filly who won the Group 3 trial for this race over course and distance last month so deserves to be favourite.
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