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Sixteen runners lined up for the 2026 edition of the most coveted 1m4f contest on the European calendar, with France, Great Britain, Ireland, Japan, and Germany all represented in a cosmopolitan field.
History suggests that this is a tough race for a colt to defend his crown. However, 2025 champ Daryz started as the clear favourite. Could the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained star succeed where Montjeu, Hurricane Run, and others had failed? If not Daryz, Varandir provided Graffard with a strong second string to his bow. Also sporting the Aga Khan silks, the three-year-old boasted a similarly improving profile to Daryz in 2025.
The market suggested the biggest threat to France would emerge from the five-pronged British attack. Andrew Balding’s Kalpana finished only seventh in 2025, but arrived seeking a Group 1 hat-trick, while the William Haggas-trained Maltese Cross had shown a liking for this track and trip when landing the Grand Prix de Paris in July. Coronation Cup winner Bay City Roller, dual course winner Friendly Soul, and the improving Saddadd completed the British quintet.
Ireland’s four-strong challenge emerged from the yards of Aidan and Joseph O’Brien. Aidan O’Brien’s Diamond Necklace arguably boasted the strongest form claims of the quartet, but a nightmare draw in 16 saw Ryan Moore jump ship for Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini. The 2025 runner-up Minnie Hauk rounded out the Aidan O’Brien trio, while Joseph relied on the impressive Epsom Oaks winner Thundering On.
Hailing from the Andreas Suborics operation, Bright Light sought to hand Germany a first Arc since Torquator Tasso caused a huge shock in 2021. Meisho Tabaru and Admire Terra were the latest Far Eastern duo tasked with ending Japan’s long wait for a first win in the race.
Result
- 1st – Daryz 6/5F, Jockey: Mickael Barzalona, Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard
- 2nd – Bay City Roller 38/1, Jockey: Oisin Murphy, Trainer: George Scott
- 3rd – Diamond Necklace 139/10, Jockey: Christophe Soumillon, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Prize Money Breakdown
- 1st – £2,484,347.83
- 2nd – £993,913.04
- 3rd – £496,956.52
- 4th – £248,260.87
- 5th – £124,347.83
PARI-MUTUEL Payouts
- Win – €2.20
- Places – 1st – €1.30, 2nd – €5.90, 3rd – €3.60
- Dual Forecast – €38.70
Recap
Friendly Soul broke best when the stalls opened to grab the early lead up the centre of the track. Maltese Cross and Minnie Hauk also gained nice early positions, but Benvenuto Cellini immediately lost any advantage of his low draw with a tardy start. Drawn widest of all in 15 and 16, Oisin Murphy and Christophe Soumillon adopted different strategies from the start. Soumillon let Diamond Necklace drift across behind runners, while Murphy deliberately allowed Bay City Roller to race alone out wide. Market leader Daryz raced in mid-division with rivals on all sides.
After a couple of furlongs, James Doyle gave up the lead, allowing Japanese raider Meisho Tabaru to make the running. Murphy and Bay City Roller took second, having slowly worked their way across the track. Friendly Soul sat third, ahead of the second Japanese runner Admire Terra and Minnie Hauk. Maltese Cross, Kalpana, and Diamond Necklace came next, ahead of Benvenuto Cellini against the rail. Daryz only had four behind him at this stage, with Bright Light bringing up the rear.
Meisho Tabaru maintained his advantage as the runners turned right-handed into the false straight. Bay City Roller was only a length adrift in second, with the field beginning to bunch up in behind. Friendly Soul, Minnie Hauk, and Kalpana made a line of three mares against the inside rail, with Admire Terra, Diamond Necklace, and Maltese Cross well positioned to strike to their outside. Daryz moved up to ninth but was briefly held in by an advancing Bright Light. Thundering On and Varandir raced at the back of the group, but both moved well.
Plenty were in with chances in the home straight, as the runners fanned across the track to launch their challenges. With Meisho Tabaru coming to the end of his tether, Friendly Soul moved past to his inside, with Bay City Roller grabbing the overall lead to his outer. Minnie Hauk and Kalpana were in the clear towards the inside but couldn’t find the turn of foot to challenge. The bigger challenges emerged up the centre of the course. Diamond Necklace moved serenely into contention and looked a huge threat. Around two lengths behind her, Daryz was beginning to move through the gears.
Passing the two-furlong pole, Bay City Roller had pulled out more and looked to have repelled Diamond Necklace. However, he had no response to what had become a searing charge from the defending champ. Finding a gear the others simply could not match, Daryz accelerated past his rivals. Snatching the lead inside the final furlong, he had forged almost two lengths clear by the line. It was a gallant run from Bay City Roller in second, with Diamond Necklace sticking on well for third.
So it proved to be a second win in the race for Francis-Henri Graffard and Mickael Barzalona. Daryz became the third horse to win back-to-back Arcs in the 21st Century, but the first colt to do so since Alleged in 1978.
Runners
- 1. Daryz – SP: 6/5F, Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard, Jockey: Mickael Barzalona
- 2. Saddadd – SP: 56/1, Trainer: Roger Varian, Jockey: Ray Dawson
- 3. Chestnut Rocket – SP: 133/1, Trainer: Alicja Karkosa, Jockey: Marvin Grandin
- 4. Admire Terra – SP: 61/1, Trainer: Yasuo Tomomichi, Jockey: Cristian Demuro
- 5. Meisho Tabaru – SP: 28/1, Trainer: Mamoru Ishibashi, Jockey: Yutaka Take
- 6. Arrow Eagle – SP: 103/1, Trainer: Jean-Claude Rouget, Jockey: Ioritz Mendizabal
- 7. Bay City Roller – SP: 38/1, Trainer: George Scott, Jockey: Oisin Murphy
- 8. Minnie Hauk – SP: 32/1, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: William Buick
- 9. Kalpana – SP: 56/10, Trainer: Andrew Balding, Jockey: Colin Keane
- 10. Friendly Soul – SP: 269/10, Trainer: John & Thady Gosden, Jockey: James Doyle
- 11. Varandir – SP: 139/10, Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard, Jockey: Clement Lecouevre
- 12. Benvenuto Cellini – SP: 217/10, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Ryan Moore
- 13. Bright Light – SP: 105/1, Trainer: Andreas Suborics, Jockey: Benjamin Marie
- 14. Maltese Cross – SP: 79/10, Trainer: William Haggas, Jockey: Tom Marquand
- 15. Thundering On – SP: 94/10, Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien, Jockey: Pierre-Charles Boudot
- 16. Diamond Necklace – SP: 139/10, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Christophe Soumillon
Non-Runners
All ran.