Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe 2026: horse-by-horse guide to all the runners
Can Daryz go back-to-back? Pic: Healy Racing
Francis-Henri Graffard.
Mickael Barzalona.
5.
Sea The Stars x Daryakana (by Selkirk).
4.
7-4.
Only three colts have won the Arc twice since the end of the second world war, and the most recent of those was Alleged, in 1977 and 1978, so Daryz is bidding to join a very select club when he goes to post this weekend. That stat is slightly skewed by the fact that many Arc winners are packed straight off to stud whatever their age, but Bago (third), Hurricane Run (third) and Workforce (unplaced) have all tried to repeat their three-year-old success since 2005 and Daryz will deservedly be ranked among the Longchamp all-timers if he can succeed where they failed. For the second year running, he has the luck of the draw on his side too with an excellent pitch in stall five, but he is now cast as the older horse trying to give weight to the three-year-olds and two prime candidates from the Classic generation are drawn on his inside.
Roger Varian.
Ray Dawson.
9.
Pinatubo x Talmada (Cape Cross).
4.
40-1.
Got off the mark at Group One level in Germany last time out, in the same race that Torquator Tasso won before causing a massive Arc upset in 2021. That was also his first run at a mile-and-a-half so further progress is entirely possible, but his limitations did appear to be exposed in a stronger Group One – the Eclipse at Sandown – in July and this latest assignment is much tougher still.
Alicja Karkosa.
Marvin Grandin.
2.
Intells x Rocaille (Anabaa).
4.
200-1.
Launched his career in the racing backwater of Poland before a switch to the much bigger pond of Chantilly, and has improved by the run since joining his current yard a year ago. Latest short-nose second to the useful Al Aasy in a Deauville Group Two was a fresh career best, but realistically still leaves him at least a stone short of what is likely to be required on Sunday.
Yasuo Tomomichi.
Cristian Demuro.
12.
Rey De Oro x Admire Miyabi (Heart’s Cry).
5.
50-1.
Finished a half-length behind the winner when third in the spring Tenno Sho, one of Japan’s most prestigious Group One events, back in May, and hit the frame too in the Japanese St Leger in his three-year-old season. Still waiting for a first Group One success, however, and has plenty to find (from a double-figure draw) to trouble the principals. The less-fanciable of the two Japanese-trained runners on form, and his compatriot, Meisho Tabaru, is scarcely shortlist material.
Mamoru Ishibashi.
Yutaka Take.
13.
Gold Ship x Meisho Tsubakuro (French Deputy).
5.
40-1.
A 12th Arc ride for Japan’s ultimate hero in the saddle, Yutaka Take, whose previous attempts to supply his homeland with a much-desired first win in the race have all come to naught. His latest partner will set off at much longer odds than the likes of Deep Impact, whose travelling fans all but crashed the PMU back in 2006, but the five-year-old does arrive in the Bois de Boulogne as only the third horse in the 67-year history of the Group One Takarazuka Kinen to win the race in consecutive years. The previous two – Gold Ship, Meisho Tabaru’s sire, and Chrono Genesis – both finished unplaced in the Arc, however, and while the ground should be to his liking, a double-figure draw is another serious obstacle to overcome.
Jean-Claude Rouget.
Ioritz Mendizabal.
14.
Gleneagles x Absolutely Me (Anabaa Blue).
5.
100-1.
The final runner in the outstanding career of Jean-Claude Rouget, who saddled his second Arc winner in the space of four runnings when Ace Impact, the favourite, completed an unbeaten six-race career in 2023. The seasons since have been a struggle, though, and Rouget was only able to extend his career until Sunday when a court delayed the winding-up of his training business until next Tuesday. It would be one of the most remarkable stories in Arc history if Arrow Eagle could send him out on a high, but while he finished sixth last year at massive odds, back in the real world his chance is summed up by his price.
George Scott.
Oisin Murphy.
15.
New Bay x Bloomfield (Teofilo).
4.
33-1.
Looked exposed as simply a very useful Group Two performer at best until this time last year, when he ran away with a Group One in Germany by seven lengths. Added a much more significant Group One win to his record in the Coronation Cup at Epsom on Derby day, thanks in no small part to the rain-softened ground, and would be an interesting each-way shot on the going that generally prevails at Longchamp in early October. Unfortunately for him, though, the ground on Sunday will be closer to the good-to-firm on Arc Trials Day in September, when he was handed a beating by Daryz in Prix Foy that was far more decisive than the one-and-three-quarter margin might suggest, and a draw in stall 15 looks like the final nail.
Aidan O’Brien.
William Buick.
10.
Frankel x Multilingual (Dansili).
4.
20-1.
Sent off as favourite 12 months ago having won three Group Ones earlier in the campaign, and led from two out until a few strides before the line before Daryz collared her late on. That prompted a sporting decision to keep her in training with a return to Longchamp in mind, but she has found it much tougher going as a four-year-old, with no further Group One wins from four attempts. A return to her very best three-year-old form would put her in with a squeak, but she had a better draw last time around too and there is a distinct sense that her best chance of Arc glory has already been and gone.
