Go niche

By SANDRA O'CONNELL

HERE’S A travel company that knows its clientele. Horse Racing Abroad, the UK specialist tour operator, is not just looking to send customers to Europe’s most prestigious horse race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris. It is giving them the chance to win back the cost of their holiday.

The Prix de l’Arc takes place on October 2nd and is a must-see for racing enthusiasts. The deal from Horse Racing Abroad is that if British-trained horses finish in first, second and third place, clients will be refunded the cost of their trip.

If you’re prepared to take your chances, a typical package from the company, including Eurostar travel from London, two-nights in a three-star hotel and escorted transfers to Longchamp on Saturday and Sunday – plus entry to the Horse Racing Abroad pavilion grandstand – starts at £434 (just under €500). Or make your own way there and book its three-night value package, with entrance to Longchamp, for around €40 less.

At the moment the odds on the favourite, last year’s winner Workforce, are 4/1. The horse is trained by Michael Stoute in Newmarket and owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah of Saudi Arabia so you might need to check what it says on its passport. The deal does include the pampered charges of Godolphin, the Maktoum family’s stables, whose residents are truly citizens of the world, summering in the UK and wintering in Dubai.

Once you’ve studied the form relating to the rules, however, the only small issue to note is that you must have booked your stay by close of business on Friday, May 13th which is, of course, unlucky for some.

* horseracingabroad.com