Europe’s premier race has attracted a stellar cast of 16 runners this year, but we’ve narrowed the field down to a top six in our 2026 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe tips. There have been surprise winners in the past, such as 72/1 outsider Torquator Tasso in 2021, but decent ground should hopefully rule out another shock result and here’s how we rank Sunday's leading Longchamp contenders, in reverse order:
Thundering On
6. THUNDERING ON @ 9/1
Joseph O’Brien ’s ace was an ultra-impressive winner of the Oaks at Epsom on soft going, disappointed in the Pretty Polly Stakes behind Estrange in June but returned to form at the Curragh in the Group Two Blandford Stakes last time. Three-year-old fillies are favoured by the race conditions and traditionally have a good record, but will the drying ground go against Thundering On?
Varandir
5. VARANDIR @ 10/1
After finishing a close fourth to Maltese Cross on his autumn comeback in the Grand Prix de Paris , Francis-Henri Graffard ’s lightly-raced colt ran on well to land the Prix Niel on trials day here in a taking manner.
“Since the Prix Niel, he has never stopped improving and he definitely has his chance to run in the Arc and be competitive,” commented Graffard, who believes Varandir has stepped up mentally and physically throughout the year.
Diamond Necklace
4. DIAMOND NECKLACE @ 14/1
It is 10 years since Aidan O’Brien last won the Arc with Found and this season’s leading Ballydoyle hope will have to overcome a horrible draw after being handed stall 16, but she has shown a liking for France by landing their 1,000 Guineas and Oaks after a Group One juvenile win on this card 12 months ago. Whether Diamond Necklace will stay the distance is another question mark, but she has looked a class act and is preferred to O’Brien’s other two entries, last season’s runner-up Minnie Hauk and Irish Derby hero Benvenuto Cellini , who both need to improve on recent form.
Maltese Cross
3. MALTESE CROSS @ 5/1
Since finishing second in the Derby , this son of Arc winner Sea The Stars has continued on an upward curve, landing the Group One Grand Prix de Paris over this course and distance and the Great Voltigeur at York to make it five victories from his last six starts . Sceptics will suggest Maltese Cross has been competing against a relatively moderate bunch of middle-distance three-year-old colts, but William Haggas bullishly declared: “This horse is going the right way physically.”
Kalpana
2. KALPANA @ 5/1
Andrew Balding ’s mare was only seventh last term but returns in fine spirits on the back of gutsy Group One victories in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Yorkshire Oaks . Juddmonte jockey Colin Keane is looking forward to a good ride and said: “Kalpana is just so professional, you can put her anywhere in a race. She’s happy ridden handy or dropped in and she just does the rest really.”
Daryz
1. DARYZ @ 13/8
No colt since Alleged in 1977 and 1978 has won the race two years in a row but with the ground in his favour and a good draw, Graffard’s four-year-old is a rock-solid favourite to buck that trend. Daryz has headed the market since running out an easy winner of his trial in the Prix Foy and Graffard is confident his charge is a much more potent threat on a better surface this time around than when getting home a head in front of Minnie Hauk last year.
“The only reason why he won the Arc over soft ground and a mile and a half is because he is a very good horse,” said the trainer. “I really prefer him on good ground because he can really produce his turn of foot.”
Betting Tips
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Betting Tips
*Prices are subject to fluctuation
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