Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe 2026: the British raiders
Maltese Cross and Kalpana lead Britain’s charge, but Daryz arrives as champion for a reason.
Sunday’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe goes off at 15:05 at ParisLongchamp. Sixteen have been declared, and from a British perspective, this is the strongest one-two punch in years.
The champion to beat
Daryz heads the market at 7/4, defending the title he won 12 months ago and bidding to become the ninth horse to win the Arc twice. Aidan O’Brien’s Diamond Necklace is out at 10/1, though she carries the worst of the draw and has been deserted by Ryan Moore in favour of stablemate Benvenuto Cellini.
Britain’s pair, and a third raider
Maltese Cross is third in the betting at 5/1 for William Haggas and Tom Marquand. He arrives off wins in the Grand Prix de Paris and the Great Voltigeur, the exact form that persuaded Haggas to skip the St Leger for this instead.
Kalpana sits just ahead of him at 6/1 for Andrew Balding, ridden by Colin Keane. She was only seventh here last year after a troubled trip, but her connections believe she can operate at a higher level than she showed then.
George Scott’s Bay City Roller completes Britain’s three-strong raiding party at 20/1. The ten-length Coronation Cup winner at Epsom was no match for Daryz over course and distance last time out, and a tricky draw adds to his task on Sunday.
How the field gets whittled down
The Arc’s entry process is famously competitive. France Galop’s initial entry list, closed back in May, ran to 73 horses, and the final field is capped at just 24. This year it settled at 16, with horses able to boost their chances through a wild card system tied to the Arc Trials series. Varandir qualifies that way, having chased Maltese Cross home in the Grand Prix de Paris before winning the Prix Niel.
Ireland’s final hand
Minnie Hauk, runner-up to Daryz by a head last year, has made the cut at 16/1 for Aidan O’Brien. Joseph O’Brien’s Thundering On, this year’s Oaks winner, is a fancied runner too at 8/1. Constitution River did not make the final field.
The key runners
| Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daryz | F-H Graffard | Mickael Barzalona | 7/4 |
| Maltese Cross | William Haggas | Tom Marquand | 5/1 |
| Kalpana | Andrew Balding | Colin Keane | 6/1 |
| Thundering On | Joseph O’Brien | Pierre-Charles Boudot | 8/1 |
| Varandir | F-H Graffard | Clement Lecoeuvre | 10/1 |
| Diamond Necklace | Aidan O’Brien | Christophe Soumillon | 10/1 |
| Bay City Roller | George Scott | Oisin Murphy | 20/1 |
| Minnie Hauk | Aidan O’Brien | William Buick | 16/1 |
The key British, Irish and French contenders named above. Full field numbers 16; prices current as of Friday.
What to watch before Sunday
Final declarations are confirmed, with weights and jockey bookings now locked in. Check back for the draw and pace factors that could decide how Sunday’s race actually unfolds.
