The horse racing broadcaster gives his thoughts on every runner in the 2026 Prix de l’Arc de Triomph on Sunday and provides his 1-2-3-4.
DARYZ 13/8 – Last year’s Arc winner whose only below par runs have come when travelling to England. Smooth winner of the Prix Foy ahead of Bay City Roller last time on fast ground. Nicely drawn in stall 5 and will back a bold bid to retain his crown. ****
SADDADD 33/1 – Had Bright Light behind when winning a breakthrough Group 1 in Germany last time but a good bit more required in this company. **
CHESTNUT ROCKET 150/1 – Started off life winning in Poland but has yet to score above Listed level and has very little chance of figuring. *
ADMIRE TERRA 66/1 – This year’s Japanese challenge falls well short of previous years and his form means Japan will be waiting for another year to land their elusive Arc. *
MEISHO TABARU 33/1 – The better of the two Japanese runners and took the scalp of multiples Grade 1 winner Croix Du Nord when landing his second Takarazuka Kinen last time out. More needed and has drawn wide. **
ARROW EAGLE 100/1 – 6th at a big price last year when ground conditions brought his proven stamina into play. On faster ground and from stall 14 it is hard to see him repeating that effort this time around. *
BAY CITY ROLLER 33/1 – Honest performer but he needs more cut in the ground to bring him into contention. He won the Coronation Cup in the mud at Epsom but was no match for Daryz on fast ground in the Prix Foy. **
MINNIE HAUK 22/1 Runner up last year when sent off favourtie but has not really reached the same heights this season and has twice been well beaten by Kalpana. ***
KALPANA 9/2 – Disappointed from a wide draw last year but she has had a super season and stall 6 is much better this year. Her defeat of Calandagan in the King George is arguably the best single piece of form in the field. A strong traveller and she looks the one to beat. *****
FRIENDLY SOUL 22/1 – Connections were encouraged to have a crack at the race after she gained a free supplementary entry when winning the Vermeille on her first start at 12f. No match for Diamond Necklace in the Nassau the time before but remains unexposed at the trip and her trial win was in a much time than Daryz clocked in a more muddling Foy. ***
VARANDIR 9/1 – Not beaten far by Maltese Cross in a messy Grand Prix De Paris. Gained his biggest success in the Prix Niel last time and has come a long way in a short space of time having not raced at 2 and is open to more progress than most in the field. ****
BENVENUTO CELLINI 14/1 – Looked to be Ballydoyle’s preferred candidate in the Derby where his issue at the start saw him controversially declared a non runner. Got his Classic when winning the Irish Derdy and his inside draw looks to be a key factor in Ryan Moore’s decision to ride him over Diamond Neckalce and Minnie Hauk. ***
BRIGHT LIGHT 100/1 – Behind Saddadd in Germany last time and whilst German horses historically often go off over the odds his form just does not look strong enough to figure. **
MALTESE CROSS 6/1 – Versatile as regards ground and the way he picked up after meeting trouble in the Grand Prix De Paris also showed he does not lack a turn of foot. At present his form is below that of Kalpana and Diamond Necklace and a double figure draw is no help. ***
THUNDERING ON 17/2 – Impressive winner of the Oaks at Epsom on soft ground but disappointed on a faster surface in the Pretty Polly. Back to form last time in Ireland but she is likely to come from off the pace and she may not get much room to operate from stall 3 on ground that will be on the quick side for her. ***
DIAMOND NECKLACE 14/1 – The leading 3yo filly this season winning the French Guineas and Oaks and comfortably beating Friendly Soul in the Nassau. Best forgiven the loss of her unbeaten record when beaten in the Romanet as a few from the yard were just below par around that time. The big concern for her is drawing the outside stall which is very tough to overcome in a race of this nature ****
Conclusion
KALPANA has drawn far better this year and a reproduction of her King George run makes her the one to beat. In a year where the fillies hold a strong hand, Diamond Necklace would be the main danger but the outside gate is a big disadvantage, so it may be left to last year’s winner Daryz to chase Kalapana home. The fact that the Aga Khan Studs choose to run Varandir as well as Daryz marks him as a potentially bigger priced horse to figure.
1. Kalpana
2. Daryz
3. Diamond Necklace
4. Varandir
Visit Betway’s horse racing betting page.
