2026 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp: the runners, the odds, the verdict
Get the full lowdown on today's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp (3.05) from our team of tipping experts in our extensive runner-by-runner guide.
2026 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe: final declarations and the full list of runners and riders
1. Daryz
Spotlight comment: Versatile as regards ground; very talented French colt who has a record of 8-9 on home soil, mostly at Longchamp, and 2-2 over 1m4f, namely wins in this race last year (beat Minnie Hauk by a head, pair clear) and the Foy (beat Bay City Roller with plenty in hand) latest start; 3-3 in domestic Group 1 races; leading contender in his bid to become the ninth dual Arc winner and first male to achieve the double since 1978.
Trainer: Francis Graffard
Jockey: Mickael Barzalona
Forecast odds: 7-4
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2. Saddadd
Spotlight comment: Has come a long way since winning a couple of good handicaps last term and prevailed by half a length in a good-ground Grosser Preis von Baden upped to 1m4f on Germany soil most recently, taking record to 5-10; faces a much stiffer task in his bid for a Group 1 double but is particularly unexposed at this distance and could go well.
Trainer: Roger Varian
Jockey: Ray Dawson
Forecast odds: 33-1
3. Chestnut Rocket
Spotlight comment: Very useful performer at about 1m4f and a dual Listed winner for current yard; good second, one place in front of Arrow Eagle, in Deauville Group 2 most recently; however, looks well out of depth at this much deeper level, as figures reflect.
Trainer: Alicja Karkosa
Jockey: Marvin Grandin
Forecast odds: 150-1
4. Admire Terra
Spotlight comment: Dual Grade 2 winner on home soil and has bits of Grade 1 form, including close third in this year's Tenno Sho (2m); prominent in the betting for 1m2f event last time but dropped away and wasn't at his best; tad inferior to compatriot Meisho Tabaru and neither look likely to give Japan a belated first Arc win.
Trainer: Yasuo Tomomichi
Jockey: Cristian Demuro
Forecast odds: 40-1
What makes Daryz a champion? Watch our short film about last year's Arc hero as he is prepared for a second tilt at Europe's greatest Flat race. Our cameras have been over to France to film him in his work and to seek insights from those around him, including trainer Francis Graffard, jockey Mickael Barzalona and staff at the Aga Khan Studs who helped raise him from birth.
5. Meisho Tabaru
Spotlight comment: Absent since June when prevailing by a neck to land the Takarazuka Kinen (1m3f) at Hanshin for a second time; those are his only wins from eight starts at Group/Grade 1 level; smart horse but seems likely to come up short and leave Japan still seeking a first Arc success after numerous attempts.
Trainer: Mamoru Ishibashi
Jockey: Yutaka Take
Forecast odds: 33-1
6. Arrow Eagle
Spotlight comment: Good performer at up to 1m7f and the winner of last year's Prix Royal-Oak; close third in Deauville Group 2 in the latest start of a light 2026 campaign but he falls short of the standard required in this field and isn't in quite the same league as his Arc-winning sibling Ace Impact; unlikely to provide a fairytale ending and third success in this race for Jean-Claude Rouget, who is due to quit training imminently.
Trainer: Jean-Claude Rouget
Jockey: Ioritz Mendizabal
Forecast odds: 66-1
7. Bay City Roller
Spotlight comment: Looks flattered by his ten-length success in the Coronation Cup at Epsom, having been the only horse to give his running on the rain-soaked ground, and proved no match for Daryz in the Foy over course and distance last time; admirably consistent and can normally be expected to give his running; however, has a difficult draw to overcome.
Trainer: George Scott
Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Forecast odds: 20-1
8. Minnie Hauk
Spotlight comment: Head second to Daryz, pair clear, in this contest 12 months ago when on an impressive roll that featured an Oaks four-timer; however, looks by means certain to repeat the form, having lacked consistency on the figures since, notwithstanding further Group 1 placed efforts in two of her last three starts (latest behind Kalpana at York).
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Jockey: William Buick
Forecast odds: 16-1
9. Kalpana
Spotlight comment: Versatile as regards ground; high-class mare who beat males in this year's King George at Ascot, adding to big wins at the same venue against her own sex; hindered by rather a wide trip when only seventh in this contest 12 months ago; capable of achieving a bigger position, provided this attempt pans out better and a hard-looking race in the Yorkshire Oaks last time (held on narrowly) hasn't left its mark.
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Colin Keane
Forecast odds: 6-1
10. Friendly Soul
Spotlight comment: Campaigned mostly against her own sex; added to this race at no cost, having qualified for free supplementary by making all in the Vermeille over course and distance (good to firm) last time, proving her stamina in first 1m4f attempt and taking Longchamp record to 2-2 (gained the other success in the Opera on this card in 2024); holds solid claims and should perform well, albeit needs a clear personal best to follow up.
Trainers: John and Thady Gosden
Jockey: James Doyle
Forecast odds: 33-1
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11. Varandir
Spotlight comment: Ties in with Maltese Cross on Grand Prix de Paris form when a close fourth; unbeaten (4-4) otherwise in this first season and prevailed by just over 1l in the Prix Niel kept to this course and distance (good to firm) most recently, earning the same Racing Post Rating that his connections' Daryz had prior to landing this prize last year; still improving and adds great interest.
Trainer: Francis Graffard
Jockey: Clement Lecoeuvre
Forecast odds: 10-1
12. Benvenuto Cellini
Spotlight comment: Controversially deemed a non-runner when well-held favourite in the Derby, having been the maker of his own tardy start; has shown a tendency to hang right since but landed the Irish version then ran creditably in the King George; however, he's suddenly on a recovery mission, having been a disappointing favourite (only fifth of seven) in the Niel over course and distance; on the plus side, he has the inside gate and is Ryan Moore's choice after stablemate Diamond Necklace got lumbered with the widest draw.
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Forecast odds: 10-1
13. Bright Light
Spotlight comment: German colt who ran well over course and distance, albeit in mere Listed grade, in May and has posted two sound efforts on home soil since upped to Group 1 level, keeping-on third to Saddadd in the Grosser Preis von Baden latest; however, he's bottom on the figures in this much stronger race.
Trainer: Andreas Suborics
Jockey: Benjamin Marie
Forecast odds: 100-1
14. Maltese Cross
Spotlight comment: Good second in a maiden and the Derby in his two attempts on soft ground; 5-5 otherwise, all on good/firmer, latterly winning the Grand Prix de Paris over course and distance (did well to overcome traffic issues) and Great Voltigeur at York (driven out to defy Group 1 penalty); skipped the St Leger, for which he would have started favourite, and attempts Arc glory instead; improving three-year-old who is well worth his place in this field and holds major claims.
Trainer: William Haggas
Jockey: Tom Marquand
Forecast odds: 5-1
15. Thundering On
Spotlight comment: Daughter of Frankel; had plausible excuses, including health factors demonstrated by post-race cough, when beaten favourite in the Pretty Polly; back on song to defy 3lb penalty in Group 2 at the Curragh (1m2f, good) last time, finishing powerfully from off the pace and taking record since upped to middle distances to 3-4; impressive in the Oaks (good to soft) in sole 1m4f attempt and, with further improvement still plausible, commands respect in her bid to enhance the good record of fillies in the Arc.
Trainer: Joseph O'Brien
Jockey: Pierre-Charles Boudot
Forecast odds: 8-1
16. Diamond Necklace
Spotlight comment: Acts on any going; had her bubble burst in the Romanet last time when bidding to maintain an unbeaten record and complete a Group 1 (1m/1m2f) five-timer, but can't be suddenly discarded after that sole defeat; recorded her big wins in the Boussac on this card last year, two French Classics and the Nassau (beat Friendly Soul in authoritative style) at Goodwood; sibling achievements broadly suggest this new trip will suit; badly drawn but otherwise a very notable contender in view of her general trajectory and age/sex allowances.
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Jockey: Christophe Soumillon
Forecast odds: 10-1
2026 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe verdict
By Steve Boow, tipster
Last year's winner and standard-setter Daryz is not opposed lightly but this is a typically competitive Arc and there are plausible alternatives from a betting perspective, most notably Oaks heroine Thundering On who is favourably drawn, gets all the allowances, promises to improve further back at 1m4f and represents a yard that's having an excellent 2026.
The selection looks set to thunder home, having finished her races strongly since upped to middle distances, aside from one excusable effort. The only other three-year-old filly in the field, Diamond Necklace, has the worst of the draw and is deserted by Ryan Moore but otherwise brings excellent credentials, being a high achiever whose winning haul includes two Classics on French soil.
Varandir (third choice) and Maltese Cross hold the strongest claims among the three-year-old colts, while the classy five-year-old mares Kalpana and Friendly Soul may prove best of the remainder.
Read these next:
Confirmed runners and riders for the 2026 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp
Who will win Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe based on previous trends?
How has the Arc draw and Aidan O'Brien's jockey bookings affected the betting?
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Published on inPrix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Last updated
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