DEFENDING CHAMPION DARYZ IS THE ARC FAVOURITE

By Graham Potter | Thursday, October 1, 2026

Races in Europe don’t come more prestigious than Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe which, as per usual has attracted a star-studded field that has connections dreaming of a supreme success.

As Sky Sports’ Senior Form Analyst Jamie Lynch put it, the Arc is “a clash of nations and generations,” and, as such, it provides a riveting spectacle as the pieces of the big race puzzle fall into place over the roughly two-and-a-half minutes it takes for the winner to cover the 2400m at the ParisLongchamp racetrack.

The prospect of good to quick going on Sunday has trainer Francis-Henri Graffard beaming as he prepares to send out his 2025 Arc winner Daryz, and current ruling race favourite, in a quest to land back-to-back Arc triumphs … a feat last achieved by the John Gisden trained Enable, ridden by Frankie Dettori in 2027 and 2018 and last achieved by a colt, Alleged, in 1978.

"I think Daryz is a ten-furlong good-ground horse with a massive turn of foot, and I think the only reason he won the Arc on soft ground over a mile and a half is because he’s a very good horse," said Graffard.

"I really prefer him on good ground because he can really produce his turn of foot. I’m really happy that the race will be run on good ground."

Apart from Daryz, a four-year-old, Graffard also has a quality three-year-old in the race in the form of Varandir, who is a four-time winner from only five starts.

Not only is the 2025 winner back for a chance of more Arc glory, but last year’s runner-up, the Aidan O’Brien trained Minnie Halk, who fought out a rousing finish with Daryz twelve months ago, will be trying to go one better this time around.

O’Brien is seldom singe handed in any Group 1 feature and the Arc is no exception with O’Brien also setting Benvenuto Cellini, the Irish Derby winner, and Diamond Necklace, the French 1000 Guineas winner, for Arc action.

Joseph O’Brien adds another string to the family’s bow. He sends out the Epsom Oaks winner Thundering On.

One horse which will have a big watch on him is the William Haggas trained Maltese Cross, the Voltigeur Stakes winner, who is currently the second favourite for the race.

Both Daryz and Maltese Cross are by See the Stars, the 2009 Arc winner, and Haggas will be looking to go one better with the another of See The Stars progeny than he did back in 2018 when his runner Sea Of Class ran Enable to a short-neck.

With all of the big guns ready to come out blazing the 2026 Arc is going to be no place for the faint-hearted and there can be little doubt that whoever earns the bragging rights when the race is all done and dusted will have earned a career highlight.