Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe 2026: runner-by-runner preview
Daryz heads a strong field for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp this weekend, with clashes between horses trained by Aidan O’Brien senior and his son drawing particular attention.
Daryz is entered for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard with Mickael Barzalona booked to ride from stall five; the four-year-old by Sea The Stars out of Daryakana (by Selkirk) goes to post at 7-4 having won the race last year and attempts a rare successful defence—only three colts have won the Arc twice since the end of the second world war, the most recent being Alleged in 1977 and 1978. As the older horse in the lineup he will be giving weight to the three-year-olds, and two prime classic-generation contenders are drawn on his inside.
Trainer Roger Varian’s runner (jockey Ray Dawson, stall nine) is a four-year-old by Pinatubo out of Talmada (Cape Cross) sent off at 40-1 after his first Group One success in Germany at his most recent start, a first attempt over a mile-and-a-half; that performance followed a clear exposure to stronger opposition when beaten in the Eclipse at Sandown in July. Alicja Karkosa’s four-year-old (jockey Marvin Grandin, stall two) began his career in Poland before moving to Chantilly and has improved since joining the yard a year ago, his latest short-nose second to Al Aasy in a Deauville Group Two representing a career-best. Yasuo Tomomichi sends a five-year-old by Rey De Oro out of Admire Miyabi (Heart’s Cry) with Cristian Demuro to ride from stall 12; the gelding finished third, a half-length behind the winner, in the spring Tenno Sho and remains without a Group One victory.
Japan’s Meisho Tabaru, trained by Mamoru Ishibashi and ridden by Yutaka Take from stall 13, is a five-year-old by Gold Ship out of Meisho Tsubakuro (French Deputy) priced at 40-1 who arrives as only the third horse in the Takarazuka Kinen’s 67-year history to win that race in consecutive years. Take is set for his 12th Arc ride, and while the ground should suit Meisho Tabaru his double-figure draw is a notable handicap. Arrow Eagle represents Jean-Claude Rouget in what the preview describes as the trainer’s final runner; the five-year-old by Gleneagles out of Absolutely Me (Anabaa Blue) ridden by Ioritz Mendizabal from stall 14 is a 100-1 chance and arrives after finishing sixth in the race last year amid Rouget’s winding-up proceedings delayed by a court until next Tuesday.
George Scott’s four-year-old (jockey Oisin Murphy, stall 15) by New Bay out of Bloomfield (Teofilo) is offered at 33-1 and arrives off a breakthrough Group One win in Germany by seven lengths and a Coronation Cup success at Epsom, but was beaten more decisively by Daryz in the Prix Foy and draws a wide 15. Aidan O’Brien’s four-year-old (jockey William Buick, stall 10) by Frankel out of Multilingual (Dansili) goes to post at 20-1; sent off favourite here 12 months ago, she led until late on before being overtaken by Daryz and has failed to add a Group One this season in four attempts. Andrew Balding’s five-year-old (jockey Colin Keane, stall 6) by Study Of Man out of Zero Gravity (Dansili) is quoted at 6-1 after finishing seventh behind Daryz last year from a wide draw and later beating Daryz by six lengths when winning the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July.
John and Thady Gosden’s five-year-old (jockey James Doyle, stall 7) by Kingman out of In Clover (Inchinor) gained a place in the Arc with a Prix Vermeille victory that carried a free supplementary entry and goes off at 25-1, though the preview notes she only held on by three-quarters of a length in that race. Francis-Henri Graffard also runs a three-year-old (jockey Clement Lecoeuvre, stall 4) by Zarak out of Varkesha (Pivotal) at 12-1 who was less than half a length behind Maltese Cross in the Grand Prix de Paris and won the Prix Niel by one-and-a-quarter lengths with Benvenuto Cellini back in fifth. Aidan O’Brien’s three-year-old (jockey Ryan Moore, stall 1) by Frankel out of Newspaperofrecord (Lope De Vega) is 14-1; he was deemed a non-runner in the Derby after a self-inflicted issue at the stalls despite trailing home in 10th, won the Irish equivalent next time, finished two lengths behind Kalpana in the King George and was a lacklustre fifth behind Varandir in the Prix Niel before receiving the low draw and a Moore ride.
Andreas Suborics sends a three-year-old (jockey Benjamin Marie, stall 8) by City Light out of Brighton Blues (Sakhee) at 100-1 who remains a maiden after six starts despite creditable runs in lower-level Group Ones. William Haggas’s three-year-old (jockey Tom Marquand, stall 11) by Sea The Stars out of Nabatea (Camelot) is 5-1 after finishing second in the Derby from a poor draw and then producing a high-class turn of foot to win the Great Voltigeur at York following a narrow Grand Prix de Paris success. Joseph O’Brien’s three-year-old filly (jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot, stall 3) by Frankel out of Thundering Nights (Night Of Thunder) is 8-1 off an Oaks win at Epsom in June in which she accelerated clear by nearly four lengths, while Aidan O’Brien’s other three-year-old filly (jockey Christophe Soumillon, stall 16) by St Mark’s Basilica out of Prudenzia (Dansili) is 14-1 and drawn widest, prompting Ryan Moore to switch to ride Benvenuto Cellini.
The full field assembled at Longchamp will contest the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on Sunday this weekend, with final declarations and any further overnight developments to follow as the race approaches.