All 16 Declared for the 2026 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe as Daryz Heads Strong Longchamp Field
The waiting is over. All 16 horses remaining for the 2026 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe have been declared for Sunday’s race at ParisLongchamp, giving us a strong field for one of the biggest Flat races of the year.
The €5 million Group 1 takes place at 3.05pm UK time on Sunday, October 4th, over the traditional 2,400 metres, just short of a mile and a half.
Odds have held fast, but we still have the draw to come on Thursday evening, meaning there could still be some important movement in the betting before race day.
At the head of the market is defending champion Daryz, but this is far from a one-horse race, with Maltese Cross, Kalpana, Diamond Necklace and Thundering On among a group of serious challengers, while Japan sends two runners in another attempt to finally win the Arc.
Here is a look at all 16 runners and their chances.
Daryz
It is difficult to start anywhere else. Last year’s Arc winner returns, attempting to become the first colt since Alleged in 1977 and 1978 to win consecutive editions of the race.
He has done little wrong since his Longchamp victory, winning the Prix Ganay, Prix d’Ispahan and Prix Foy during 2026.
His only defeat this season came when third in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, with connections reporting that his preparation had been affected by illness.
Crucially, he has now shown that he does not need testing ground, when his Prix Foy victory came on a much quicker surface than the one he encountered in last year’s Arc.
At around 7/4, the bookmakers clearly see him as the horse everyone else has to beat.
Maltese Cross
Maltese Cross has become one of Europe’s leading three-year-olds and brings one particularly important piece of form into Sunday’s race: he has already won a Group 1 over the Arc course and distance.
William Haggas’s colt landed the Grand Prix de Paris before confirming his progress by winning the Great Voltigeur at York under a penalty.
He has won five of his seven races and finished second in the other two. Quick ground should also be in his favour, making him one of the most obvious alternatives to Daryz.
At around 9/2, the market is giving him plenty of respect.
Kalpana
Kalpana finished only seventh in this race last year, but conditions could be very different this time.
Andrew Balding’s mare produced one of the strongest pieces of mile-and-a-half form this season when beating Calandagan in the King George at Ascot, and she followed that by winning the Yorkshire Oaks.
The very soft ground at Longchamp did not help her in the 2025 Arc, while a much quicker surface appears likely this weekend, and that alone makes her a much more interesting proposition than her finishing position last year might suggest.
At 7/1, she sits firmly among the leading contenders.
Diamond Necklace
Diamond Necklace is perhaps one of the most interesting runners in the entire field.
Aidan O’Brien’s three-year-old won her first six races, including the French 1,000 Guineas, Prix de Diane and Nassau Stakes, before finally losing her unbeaten record in the Prix Jean Romanet.
The big unknown is the distance because she has never raced over a mile and a half, so Sunday’s Arc will ask a new question of her stamina.
However, as a three-year-old filly she receives a useful weight allowance from the older colts, and the market has taken an increasingly positive view, with her available at around 8/1.
Thundering On
Joseph O’Brien’s Thundering On brings Classic form to Paris after winning the Oaks earlier this season.
She was disappointing when fourth in the Pretty Polly, but returned to winning form in the Blandford Stakes.
The slight concern could be the ground, with O’Brien suggesting that she is at her best when there is some ease underfoot. Several dry days in Paris could result in conditions becoming quicker than ideal.
At around 9/1, she remains one of the leading three-year-old challengers.
Varandir
Varandir might not have the profile of stablemate Daryz, but his recent form makes him difficult to ignore.
The Francis Graffard-trained three-year-old won the Prix Hocquart before finishing less than a length behind Maltese Cross when fourth in the Grand Prix de Paris.
He then strengthened his Arc claims by winning the Prix Niel, one of the traditional Longchamp trials for this race.
At approximately 12/1, Varandir offers another strong hand for the Graffard stable and is a decent each-way bet consideration.
Minnie Hauk
There is one very good reason not to dismiss Minnie Hauk at 20/1, and that is being beaten by only a head in this race last year.
She and Daryz finished more than five lengths clear of the remainder of the field in 2025, showing just how good that performance was.
The problem is that she has not matched that level during 2026, finishing second in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes but eighth in the King George and third in the Yorkshire Oaks.
If she can reproduce last year’s Arc performance, 20/1 would look a huge price, but her recent form makes that a significant “if”.
Friendly Soul
Friendly Soul earned her place in the Arc through an impressive Prix Vermeille victory at Longchamp, which gave her a free supplemented entry into Sunday’s race.
The Gosden-trained mare made all and set a record time, which is particularly interesting given the possibility of quick ground again on Sunday.
She also brings plenty of Group 1 experience, having won the Prix de l’Opéra in 2024 and finished second in this year’s Nassau Stakes.
At 20/1, she could be one of the more interesting outsiders, particularly if the ground continues to dry.
Benvenuto Cellini
Aidan O’Brien’s Irish Derby winner has already shown that he belongs in top company.
Benvenuto Cellini followed his Curragh Classic victory by finishing third behind Kalpana in the King George, which gives him form that connects directly with one of Sunday’s leading contenders.
His latest effort was less encouraging, though, and he could manage only fifth in the Prix Niel despite starting as the 4/6 favourite.
That explains why he can be backed at around 25/1 despite being an Irish Derby winner.
Bay City Roller
Bay City Roller is another runner whose chance may depend heavily on conditions.
George Scott’s four-year-old produced an excellent performance when winning the Coronation Cup by ten lengths on soft ground and most recently finished second behind Daryz in the Prix Foy.
That Longchamp run proves he can compete at the track, although he would probably prefer more rain than currently looks likely.
At around 25/1, supporters will be watching the weather almost as closely as the horse.
Saddadd
Saddadd arrives in Paris after winning his first Group 1 in the Grosser Preis von Baden.
Roger Varian’s four-year-old had already shown useful form earlier in the season, finishing third in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and fourth in the Eclipse.
The Arc represents another rise in class, but a recent Group 1 winner at 33/1 cannot be completely ignored in an open race behind the favourites.
Meisho Tabaru
Japan has spent decades trying to win the Arc, and Meisho Tabaru provides another fascinating attempt.
He arrives as a dual winner of the Takarazuka Kinen and has already worked at Longchamp ahead of Sunday’s race.
The experienced Yutaka Take takes the ride and could send him forward early, meaning Meisho Tabaru may also have an important role in how the race is run.
At around 33/1, he is an outsider according to the British bookmakers, but he brings serious Japanese Group 1 form.
Admire Terra
The second Japanese challenger brings something slightly different to the race in that Admire Terra has proven stamina, having won the Hanshin Daishoten over 3,000 metres.
So there should be little concern about seeing out the Arc distance strongly, with Cristian Demuro also a notable booking.
The Italian has already ridden two Arc winners and knows exactly what is required around Longchamp, but despite this, the market still considers Admire Terra an outsider at around 40/1.
Arrow Eagle
Arrow Eagle has already experienced the Arc, having finished sixth in last year’s race. Jean-Claude Rouget’s five-year-old also won the Prix Royal-Oak on very soft ground, while his latest run produced a third-place finish in the Grand Prix de Deauville.
The concern is Sunday’s likely quicker surface when much of his best form has come with significant give in the ground.
At 66/1, a major career-best would probably be required.
Bright Light
Bright Light represents Germany and has come surprisingly close to Group 1 success this season.
He was beaten just a neck in the Grosser Preis von Berlin before finishing third behind Saddadd in the Grosser Preis von Baden, and while those performances earned him his place in Paris, his connections have indicated that softer ground is preferable.
At around 100/1, he is one of the outsiders, although his German Group 1 form means he is not arriving simply to make up the numbers.
Chestnut Rocket
The biggest-priced horse in the field is Chestnut Rocket. The four-year-old finished only a neck away from winning the Grand Prix de Deauville on heavy ground, having previously won at Listed level.
This is a much tougher assignment, and quicker conditions would also appear less suitable than the testing surface on which he produced his best recent performance.
At around 150/1, victory would rank as one of the biggest shocks in modern Arc history.
Daryz Heads the Market, But the Arc Has Plenty of Depth
The final declarations have left us with an Arc containing several very different types of contender.
Daryz brings proven Arc form and arrives as the defending champion. Maltese Cross brings improving three-year-old form and a previous Longchamp Group 1 victory. Kalpana has arguably produced some of the strongest mile-and-a-half form of the season, while Diamond Necklace could improve again if she stays the distance.
Then there are horses such as Varandir, Minnie Hauk and Friendly Soul at double-figure prices, plus the continuing Japanese challenge through Meisho Tabaru and Admire Terra.
The next major piece of information comes with the stall draw on Thursday evening. Daryz won from stall two last year, and low numbers have historically performed well at Longchamp, so the draw could have a significant effect on both the betting and the chances of several runners.
For now, though, the important news is that all 16 have been declared.
And with the defending champion facing Classic winners, established Group 1 stars, improving three-year-olds and two Japanese challengers, the 2026 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe has developed into a fascinating renewal.
Prediction
Based on the final field, recent form and the ground looking likely to be on the quicker side, my three would be:
🏆 Winner: Kalpana
⚠️ Main Danger: Daryz
👀 Outsider: Friendly Soul
The draw tonight could change my view slightly, particularly if Kalpana or Friendly Soul gets landed very wide.
BETFRED
