Daryz is set to defend his title in the 2026 edition of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Europe’s most prestigious and lucrative race, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing at 3:05 p.m. The colt’s connections are dreaming of an extraordinary achievement: becoming the first horse since Alleged in 1978 to win the Arc in consecutive years. Francis‑Henri Graffard’s bay colt has already shown why he is the short‑priced favourite.
After a brilliant performance in the Prix Ganay, he followed it up with a sparkling run in the Prix Aga Khan IV, confirming his class at the highest level. A trip to Royal Ascot in June for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes did not go as planned – Daryz finished third – and post‑race examinations revealed a minor blood issue that was promptly treated.
Following a brief spell, the horse returned in the Prix Foy, where he easily defeated Bay City Roller, the recent Coronation Cup winner, despite being described by his trainer as only 75 % fit. Drawn in stall five, Daryz will face a field of strong rivals, but his team remain supremely confident that he can repeat his Arc triumph.
Among the challengers, Kalpana, who finished seventh in the same race last year, is eager for redemption. The filly returns to Longchamp aiming to emulate Juddmonte’s Bluestocking, the 2024 winner of the same event.
Kalpana, a King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes victor, has added two Group 1 wins to her record this season. Starting from stall six, she appears to suit the going and, with Colin Keane now her regular rider, she could be a serious contender. Maltese Cross offers William Haggas the chance of his first Arc win.
The three‑year‑old, a son of Sea The Stars, has progressed steadily, securing his second Group 1 victory in the Prix Foy. After a runner‑up finish in the Derby, he captured the Grand Prix de Paris and then triumphed in the Great Voltigeur Stakes. However, his odds have been softened by a draw in stall eleven, which could make his run more challenging. Aidan O'Brien will have three Classic winners in the field.
Ryan Moore has elected to ride Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini, while Diamond Necklace, who draws the dreaded stall sixteen, will be partnered by another top jockey. The previous year’s runner‑up, Minnie Hauk, completes the O'Brien trio and will be ridden by William Buick, who hopes to turn last year’s second place into a victory.
Never miss a story – the latest racing news, interviews and features are available on your mobile device via Sky Sports Racing. Aventure, a proven Group 1 performer against her own sex, leads the 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 fillies‑and‑mares race where she boasts an impressive record of eight wins from twelve starts, including two Group 1 triumphs. She rebounded from a defeat by Daryz in the Prix Ganay by winning the Prix Corrida, then fell short in the Grand Prix de Saint‑Cloud against Calandagan. Her biggest moment came later in the summer when she captured the Prix Jean et Louis Romanet at Deauville, beating the unbeaten Diamond Necklace. Among the three‑year‑old fillies, Pink Panthera appears the most promising.
She has been close to winning at Group 1 level twice this season – first in the Prix de Diane and most recently in the Prix Vermeille – narrowly missing the top spot on both occasions. Historically, three‑year‑olds have dominated the Arc, winning eight of the last ten runnings, which bodes well for her chances. Precise, the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes winner, has been heavily campaigned this year and will make her first appearance at Longchamp in the Arc. Ryan Moore will take the reins, hoping to translate her proven mile ability to the longer distance.
The race also features a clash between Samangan and Thesecretadversary in the Group 1 Qatar Prix de la Forêt over seven furlongs. Thesecretadversary turned the tables on Samangan in the Prix Jean‑Prat after a victory in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. The son of St Mark’s Basilica later contested the Prix Jacques le Marois, finishing three lengths behind Rayif, another Graffard‑trained Aga Khan colt.
Samangan, meanwhile, placed fourth in that same race, with True Love (who also re‑opposes) finishing second. Samangan later secured his first Group 1 win in the Prix Maurice de Gheest after a strong finish against the fast‑finishing Division. True Love, a classic winner of the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket, has not won since that triumph in May but has consistently performed well in Group 1 company, finishing in the placings on three occasions.
Christopher Head hopes Nighttime can rediscover form, while Marvelman will represent Andrew Balding’s colours. Additional races on the card include: - 12.31 ParisLongchamp – G1 Prix Marcel Boussac – Green Express leads an open field. - 1.09 ParisLongchamp – G1 Prix Jean‑Luc Lagardère – National Stakes hero Folsom Blues returns. - 1.47 ParisLongchamp – G1 Prix de l’Abbaye – Naana’s Shadow contests a wide‑open sprint.
- 2.25 ParisLongchamp – G1 Arabian World Cup – Rb Kingmaker and HM Alchahine featured. - 10.10 Keeneland – G3 Summer Stakes – Rebecca Menzies rides Adonius against Queen Mary third Ruiva. - 10.45 Keeneland – G1 Spinster Stakes – Fully Subscribed uses the race as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
The 2026 Arc promises a thrilling blend of seasoned champions and rising stars, each eager to etch their name into the annals of racing history. Whether Daryz can pull off the elusive back‑to‑back victory, or a newcomer can upset the odds, the day at Longchamp will be a showcase of the sport’s finest talent and drama.