Race massively splits opinion with punters on collision course as Arc fav Ace Impact drifts in betting despite win

ACE IMPACT remains at the top of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe market but punters are split on whether he deserves to be.

The Jean-Claude Rouget-trained three-year-old went off at 2-5 and swept past the entire field in the straight to win the Group 2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano.

He appeared to never be asked for maximum effort and looked better value than the winning margin of three-quarters of a length.

The horse he beat, Al Riffa, is no slouch, having won a Group 1 last year before an interrupted campaign this time around.

Punters and bookmakers have been left at arms, however, with two divided groups of those impressed and those less than so.

Coral have slightly eased Ace Impact to 9-2 from 4 after the win, while trimming several of his rivals.

Coral's David Stevens said: "Although Ace Impact made it five wins from as many career starts with victory in the Guillame D'Ornano and does remain Arc favourite, we weren't blown away by the win.

"As a result we've eased his Longchamp odds slightly, while closest market rivals, Feed The Flame and Hukum, have both shortened by a point."

Plenty of punters shared the view, with one on Twitter saying: "Will be a pretty poor Arc if that wins..."

Another said: "Will be nowhere near the Arc."

That didn't stop others being impressed, with plenty pointing to the fact French horses are traditonally revved up slowly.

One punter said: "People who are crabbing him for this know nothing about a French horse being prepped for October."

Another said: "Ace Impact could not have been more impressive, he's only 80 per cent fit, swept by field, hands and heels, eased near the wire - a very deserved Arc favourite."

While one more wrote: "That was a lot more comfortable than it looked."

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