Tote provides access to French pools for Arc weekend

Tote and PMU are giving British and Irish racing fans exclusive access to the French pools for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe meeting this weekend.

Since September 2023, the Tote has been the only way British and Irish racing fans can access the significant pools offered by the PMU. 

This covers racing throughout the year, including all races from the Arc meeting on 5 October and 6 October. 

Jordan Hopkins, the Tote’s French racing specialist, emphasised that there is ‘exceptional value’ to be found in the French pools this weekend, and crucially punters can bet with unrestricted stakes, in a highly liquid market. 

“Particular focus should be placed on races where there is a hotly fancied French-trained runner, as excessive local support makes for a distorted pool that offers overpays on the rest of the market with respect to industry SP. 

“For example, Zarigana will most likely start the odds-on favourite in the Prix Marcel Boussac on Sunday, which should offer value in the pool on the rest of the field.”

For ARC weekend, the PMU typically offers pools of over €750,000 on each race, or over €17.5m for the meeting. 

The Tote will be offering a placepot on the weekend’s racing from Longchamp, along with the six most popular single leg pools: Win, Place, Exacta, Trifecta, Quinella and Swinger.

The group suggested that last year’s event was good at showcasing the value in these French pools, such as the Prix Jean Luc Lagardere, won by Rosallion, which was overpaid by 29% (£7.10 vs 9/2) due to local backing of French favourite Beauvatier.

In further racing news, the World Tote Association (WoTA) just announced the election of a new Board, welcoming its members for 2025-26.

Co-Chairing the Association will be Fundi Sithebe, CEO of 4Racing in South Africa, and Keith Johnson, President of 1/ST Technology group/AmTote.

Meanwhile, Riko Luiking, General Manager of German Tote, has accepted the role of Treasurer.