Luke Morris stole the headlines at last year’s Arc de Triomphe with a superb ride on board the winner Alpinista, and we’re fortunate enough to have some quotes from here ahead of the big race this weekend.
The top jockey gives his thoughts on:
- Who he fancies in this year’s Arc de Triomphe
- How racing can cope without Frankie
- What he expects Frankie to do after retirement
- How important it is to have a Monarch involved in the sport
- The key differences between jumps and flat racing
Speaking to OLBG, Luke gives all his thoughts below:
Who Do You Fancy In This Year’s Arc de Triomphe?
“I really like Hukum, his form is solid and I think he’s got a massive chance. I think he’s been perfectly prepared for the race, he’s lightly-raced this year and this appears to be his target throughout. He’s been campaigned and kept fresh especially for this race after the King George. If they do get a bit of rain in France then he’ll enjoy the give underfoot. He brings solid form into the race. Ace Impact, similarly, has been trained for the race and brings a strong hand.
It was competitive last year and, this year, a few of the horses have fallen by the wayside, Aidan O’Brian hasn’t got as strong a hand going into the race as previous years. A horse that I do like, who was disappointing last time, is Feed The Flame. He looked very good when winning in France but was disappointing in his prep run. If he comes back on song, I think he’s a lively outsider.
Frankie has a tremendous record in the Arc and his ride on Golden Horn in the Arc was one of the best rides you’ll ever see. In Free Wind, I think he’s got a live outside chance but she probably needs to improve and have a career best to step up from the Yorkshire Oaks form, but nobody will put it past Frankie to lift her home.”
How Did It Feel To Win The Arc Last Year?
“I’ve always felt that the Arc and the Epsom Derby are two of the trickiest races to win. In the Arc you generally get a big 20-runner field and if you’re drawn out wide you have to make a difficult decision. The Arc is also such a competitive race on often deep ground. To be able to win it was unbelievably special.
It was very surreal. It’s difficult to describe the buzz when you win a race of such magnitude. Winning Group Ones give you an incredible buzz, but the Arc was on another level. The feeling of passing the post in front was unbelievable and the ten minutes afterward where you are whisked around Longchamp like you’re a rockstar with loads of security. Looking back now, it’s quite surreal. It was the most unbelievable buzz and it spurs you on to want to win those races again because of the significance of it.
We all flew to France as a team and flew back together, myself, Sir Mark, Miss Rausing, William Butler, the assistant trainer. We had some champagne on the way back but I was at Wolverhampton the next day, it was certainly back down to earth with a bang. Luckily I generally have Mondays off so I did manage to get a nice lie-in.”
Racing Without Frankie
“Frankie’s a massive personality as well as being a superstar jockey. He’s great for the sport and the only jockey that is known outside of a racing circle. It needs someone to step up to the plate and keep the sport in the limelight.
It’s a massive void in the weighing room and the jockey ranks because he is such a superstar. He’s had a wonderful career and achieved everything. There’s lots of good jockeys and good riders, but Frankie is a one-of-a-kind when it comes to charisma and personality, people like him don’t come around very often, I’ll be surprised if anyone can fill his shoes in that respect. However, riding-wise, I think there’s lots of talented riders around.
I can’t see him going down the training route, I don’t think that’s for him and I think the grind of getting up every morning and dealing with horses when he’s been doing it all his life, I think he’s looking for something more back seat.
I can see him doing I’m A Celebrity or Strictly Come Dancing along with some media work for ITV. He’s got huge charisma and is a great personality, so I’m sure he’ll be involved in the media somehow.”
How Important Is It For Racing To Have A Monarch So Engaged In Racing?
“I think it’s vitally important. We saw everything that The Queen did for racing through her huge love for thoroughbreds and her breeding operation, it was massive what she did for British racing.
For it to be handed on to The King, I think there was some scepticism as to whether he was as quite into it as much as The Queen, but I think Desert Hero has played a huge part in that series. The horse has been so successful and won at Royal Ascot, ran so well in the St Leger and I think it was massive to see The King there at Doncaster on Saturday.
He looked to be having a fantastic time and he was really engaged with the crowd. Him being there was massive for British racing and hopefully some good horses come his way and that will keep him heavily involved in the sport.”
The Differences Between Flat And Jumps Racing
“Over jumps racing, they have a lot of options and a lot of ways of dodging each other. Constitution Hill had options last year to go to four and five runner races and generally have quite easy spins round and then they arrive in the Champion Hurdle and win.
On the flat, you’re restricted and everyone meets in the big races. I was very surprised at the backlash of the Constitution Hill saga, he’s the best hurdler I’ve ever seen because he’s so quick and fast over hurdles. Why would you send a horse that’s so good over hurdles chasing when he’s so dominant and beats all before him. I thought it was a sensible decision.
I think winning the Champion Hurdle is a great achievement as one of the significant races at Cheltenham, whether there are ten runners, four runners or whether he was 10/1 or 1/10. The pressure is still there and really strong, so I’m sure Nico will get a buzz on him.”
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