Daryz is set to defend his Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe title in the 2026 edition of Europe’s most prestigious race, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing at 3:05 p.m. The colt is chasing a rare back-to-back triumph, a feat not achieved since the legendary Alleged accomplished it in 1978. If he succeeds, Daryz will join an elite club of horses that have managed to dominate the Arc in consecutive years, underscoring his status as one of the modern greats of middle‑distance racing. Trained by Francis‑Henri Graffard, Daryz arrived at the Arc in superb form.
He opened his season with a convincing win in the Prix Ganay, then followed that up with another brilliant performance in the Prix Aga Khan IV. A subsequent run at Royal Ascot in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes did not go as planned – he finished third and post‑race examinations revealed some blood abnormalities that required attention. After a brief spell, the horse returned to the track in the Prix Foy, where he faced and easily beat the previous Coronation Cup winner Bay City Roller, a rival he will meet again today.
Graffard noted that Daryz was only about 75 % fit at that time, yet he still produced a dominant effort, suggesting that a fully fit Daryz could be even more formidable. Drawn in stall five, Daryz heads the betting as the short‑priced favourite. His connections are confident that he will absorb any early pressure and dictate the pace, using his turn of foot to pull away in the final stages.
The field also includes several high‑profile challengers, each with a compelling story and a realistic chance of upsetting the favourite. Kalpana, who finished seventh in the same race last year, returns to Longchamp with the aim of redemption. The filly, owned by Juddmonte, previously captured the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and has added two more Group 1 victories to her resume this season. Drawn in stall six, she appears well‑suited to the soft ground that often characterises the Arc in October.
Veteran jockey Colin Keane, now in his second year aboard Kalpana, will be looking to replicate his earlier success and push the mare to the front of the pack. Maltese Cross represents trainer William Haggas’s bid for his first Arc win. The three‑year‑old, a son of Sea The Stars, has already secured a Group 1 victory in the Great Voltigeur Stakes after finishing second in the Derby and winning the Grand Prix de Paris.
Unfortunately for him, the draw has placed him in stall eleven, a position that historically has been less advantageous in the tightly packed finish of the Arc. Nevertheless, his recent form suggests he could still be a serious factor if he can navigate the inside and find a clear run. Aidan O'Brien fields three classic winners in the race. Irish Derby victor Benvenuto Cellini will be partnered with Ryan Moore, who has opted for the Derby winner over the highly regarded Diamond Necklace, who draws the notoriously difficult stall sixteen.
The second O'Brien runner is the previous year’s runner‑up, Minnie Hauk, who will be ridden by William Buick in an attempt to turn a near‑miss into a victory. The third O'Brien entry is yet to be named in the original briefing, but the stable’s depth ensures a strong presence. The French filly Aventure, a proven Group 1 performer against her own sex, headlines a nine‑horse field in the Prix de l’Opéra Longines.
Christophe Ferland’s mare has contested the Arc twice, finishing second and eleventh, and this year she returns to a race restricted to fillies and mares. Her record in mixed company is impressive – eight wins from twelve starts, including two Group 1 victories – and she will be looking to add another high‑profile win to her résumé. Another notable contender is the mare who rebounded from a defeat by Daryz in the Prix Ganay by winning the Prix Corrida against Sunly.
Although she was outclassed by Calandagan in the Grand Prix de Saint‑Cloud, she later captured the Prix Jean et Louis Romanet at Deauville, beating the unbeaten Diamond Necklace. Her experience at the top level makes her a dangerous outsider.
Three‑year‑old Pink Panthera has been the most consistent performer among the younger horses, having been just short of victory on two occasions at Group 1 level – first in the Prix de Diane and then most recently in the Prix Vermeille. Historically, three‑year‑olds have excelled in the Arc, winning eight of the last ten runnings, so Pink Panthera could be the dark horse that surprises the field. Precise, a dual winner of the Irish 1,000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes, has been heavily campaigned this year and will be making her first appearance over the Arc distance.
Ryan Moore will take the reins, hoping the mare’s proven turn of foot can translate to the longer trip. The race also features a clash between Samangan and Thesecretadversary in the Group 1 Qatar Prix de la Forêt over seven furlongs earlier in the meeting. Thesecretadversary previously beat Samangan in the Prix Jean Prat after a victory in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Both horses have since added Group 1 experience, with Samangan finishing a close third in the Prix Jacques le Marois, narrowly beaten by Rayif, another Graffard‑trained colt. True Love, a classic winner of the Newmarket 1,000 Guineas, has not won since that triumph but has consistently placed in Group 1 company, showing that she remains competitive at the highest level. Christopher Head’s Nighttime is looking to rebound, while Marvelman will represent Andrew Balding’s colours.
Other notable entries across the meeting include Green Express leading an open field in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac, Folsom Blues returning to contest the G1 Prix Jean‑Luc Lagardère, and Naana’s Shadow taking on a large field in the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye. The Arabian World Cup will feature Rb Kingmaker and HM Alchahine, while in the United States the G3 Summer Stakes at Keeneland will see Rebecca Menzies with Adonius taking on Queen Mary third Ruiva.
Finally, the G1 Spinster Stakes at Keeneland will have Fully Subscribed using the race as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Racing enthusiasts are encouraged to stay up‑to‑date with the latest news, interviews, and features on their mobile devices, ensuring they never miss a moment of the action as the world’s best thoroughbreds compete for glory in the 2026 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.