Daryz remains the horse to beat in the 2026 Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe, and that has not changed as the season moves into its final stretch. As of this update in September 2026, Francis-Henri Graffard’s colt sits as favourite to defend the title he won twelve months ago at ParisLongchamp.
Latest 2026 Arc de Triomphe position
Daryz heads the market for a second successive year, with Graffard’s stable aiming to complete back-to-back Arc wins for the first time since Enable managed it in 2017 and 2018. His position at the top of the betting has held steady through the summer.
No fresh contender has emerged close enough to disturb that standing heading into the final weeks before the race. Bookmakers and pundits alike continue to treat the colt as the horse the field must catch.
Daryz leads market after 2025 victory over Minnie Hauk
Daryz claimed last year’s Arc in dramatic fashion, holding off Minnie Hauk in a finish decided by the narrowest of margins. The result stayed in doubt until the photograph went up, a reminder of the quality needed to win Europe’s richest all-aged middle-distance prize.
That win is the foundation of his favouritism now. A horse capable of surviving a finish that tight has earned the benefit of the doubt going into a title defence.
Enable sets the benchmark for back-to-back titles
Enable remains the standard by which any Arc defence is judged, having won the race in both 2017 and 2018. No horse has repeated the feat since, which is why Daryz’s bid carries so much weight this year.
Aidan O’Brien knows what it takes to win the race outright, having done so twice, with Dylan Thomas in 2007 and Found in 2016. Neither victory came in consecutive years, and that gap underlines how rare Enable’s achievement was.
2026 Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe date, time and prize money
The 2026 Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe takes place on Sunday, 4th October 2026, with a 3:05pm post time at ParisLongchamp. The race is run over one mile and four furlongs, with prize money attached that keeps it among the biggest assignments in the sport.
One change to the race conditions will not apply this year. Geldings are expected to be permitted to run in the Arc from 2027, but the 2026 renewal will still be contested under the existing rules.
What happens next
Attention now turns to the trials and market moves that follow through late September, with punters watching for any shift in Daryz’s position at the top of the betting. Supporters looking for shorter-term action elsewhere in the sport can check the daily racing cheat sheet or today’s Lucky 15 selections for the current card.
For the fuller background to this year’s market, including the full account of Daryz’s win over Minnie Hauk, read our original Arc de Triomphe report.
