2026 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Tips - Free guide to Europe's most prestigious flat race
The 2026 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Europe’s top flat race, takes place on Sunday at Longchamp. Defending champion Daryz tops the betting at 7/4, but two exceptional mares, Kalpana (6/1) and Friendly Soul (25/1), present serious challenges. Track history shows returning runners, especially fillies and mares, often perform well. Kalpana’s strong mile-and-a-half form and a favourable draw make her the ante-post pick. Friendly Soul, unbeaten on French soil and fresh from a record Prix Vermeille, is an attractive each-way bet at big odds.
- Free guide to the 2026 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
- This famous race will be run at Longchamp on Sunday 4th October
- Kalpana and Friendly Soul feature in our selections
Longchamp racecourse will stage Europe's most prestigious flat race on Sunday, as a quality field lines up in the 2026 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
The field has been confirmed and the draw has been made for Sunday's main event at Longchamp. Here's our free guide to the 2026 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, including our best betting tips.
Key Arc Info
| Race | Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe |
| Course | Longchamp Racecourse, Paris |
| Date | Sunday, October 4th |
| Start Time | 3:05pm (BST) |
| Status | Group One |
| First Prize | €2.85m |
| Distance | 2,400m (1m4f) |
| Last Winner | Daryz |
| Favourite | Daryz (7/4) |
2026 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Odds
| Name | Odds |
|---|---|
| Daryz | 7/4 |
| Maltese Cross | 5/1 |
| Kalpana | 6/1 |
| Thundering On | 9/1 |
| Varandir | 12/1 |
| Benvenuto Cellini | 14/1 |
| Diamond Necklace | 14/1 |
| Bar | 20/1 |
*Odds taken 2/10/29*
2026 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Tip 1 - Kalpana
Waldgeist and Sottsass finished fourth on their first attempt at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe before winning the race the following season. Westover and Onesto finished sixth and tenth behind Alpinista in 2022 before placing second and third to Ace Impact the following season. Last year, Sosie finished third, having placed fourth the previous season.
Horses coming back for a second crack at the Arc, especially classy horses, have a noticeably good record. As do fillies and mares, who've recorded five victories and three seconds in the last ten years. That gives me plenty of hope that KALPANA (6/1) can build on a promising performance 12 months ago, as she brings the strongest mile-and-a-half form into Sunday's main event.
Colin Keane's mount was one of the quickest away from stall ten in last year's Arc. Keane attempted to slot in a couple of times before the bend but could never find a gap and was forced to rein his mount back into midfield.
Kalpana then raced four wide around the entire bend and was pushed into a position to challenge as they straightened up for home. With two furlongs to travel, Kalpana only had Daryz and Minnie Hauk ahead of her, but that wide trip took its toll late on, and Balding's mare faded back to seventh in the closing stages.
Kalpana showed her class and constitution by bouncing back to winning ways on Champions Day less than two weeks later, beating future Group One winner Estrange to land her second Fillies' And Mares'. Balding's five-year-old then produced the finest performance of her career in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July, where she raced prominently and quickened clear of Calandagan to claim that prestigious prize.
Colin Keane's mount wasn't at her best in the Yorkshire Oaks. Kalpana wandered around violently once she hit the front, allowing Sparan Nua to get within a head of her at the line. Yet Keane seemed confident after the contest that the favourite was simply idling late on and would have picked up again if Sparan Nua had joined her any earlier down the straight.
Having once been pigeonholed as a soft-ground specialist, Kalpana now seems to produce her best on decent ground, so the forecast in the build-up to the Arc should be ideal. After landing a lovely low draw in stall six, I'd be surprised if Kalpana wasn't backed into something like 7/2 before the off on Sunday.
Arc Final Field
Arc Draw and Pace Analysis
| Draw | Name | Running Style |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benvenuto Cellini | Midfield |
| 2 | Chestnut Rocket | Prominent |
| 3 | Thundering On | Held Up |
| 4 | Varandir | Midfield |
| 5 | Daryz | Midfield/Prominent |
| 6 | Kalpana | Midfield/Prominent |
| 7 | Friendly Soul | Forward |
| 8 | Bright Light | Held Up |
| 9 | Saddadd | Forward |
| 10 | Minnie Hauk | Prominent |
| 11 | Maltese Cross | Midfield/Prominent |
| 12 | Admire Terra | Midfield |
| 13 | Meisho Tabaru | Forward |
| 14 | Arrow Eagle | Midfield |
| 15 | Bay City Roller | Prominent |
| 16 | Diamond Necklace | Midfield/Prominent |
2026 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Tip 2 - Friendly Soul
As I mentioned earlier, fillies and mares boast an excellent recent record in the Arc. FRIENDLY SOUL (25/1) was supplemented for Sunday's feature following her victory in the Prix Vermeille, and I feel like her performance on Trials Day is being undervalued.
James Doyle's mount bounced out from stall five and travelled strongly at the front. Composing, Sparan Nua and Tattycoram tried to keep tabs on the leader, but all three began to fall away turning for home. Friendly Soul then had to find a little extra in the closing stages to repel the closers, and that she did, holding Pink Panthera and Sunly at arm's length to win by almost a length.
Although Friendly Soul did slow down a little in the final two furlongs, she stopped the clock in an excellent time. It might even have been the quickest Vermeille of all time. It was certainly the fastest Vermeille run since 1965, and we don't have any recorded times before that. Moreover, it was marginally faster than the Prix Niel won by Varandir – where the front-running Montreal faded rapidly out of contention – and a full five seconds quicker than the Prix Foy won by favourite Daryz.
Pink Panthera got within a short neck of Diamond Necklace in the Prix de Diane, and Sunly was only a length behind Calandagan in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. They are genuine Group One fillies with strong form over middle distances. Both would be worthy runners in the Arc.
That Prix Vermeille form is rock solid, and Friendly Soul saw out the trip very well. John and Thady Gosden's mare is unbeaten on French soil, having won the Prix Alec Head and the Prix de l'Opera in 2024 before spending the entirety of 2025 on the sidelines. There's a chance she could get an uncontested lead too, unless Saddadd or Meisho Tabaru really serve it up to her.
James Doyle's mount is a two-time Group One winner and a course and distance winner. She brings some top seasonal form to the table and has landed a nice draw in stall seven. Friendly Soul's price of 25/1 is far, far too big.
Live Stream
Visit our Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Live Stream page if you want to watch this famous race via a mobile or tablet on Sunday.
Arc FAQs
- When is the 2026 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe?
The 2026 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe will take place at Longchamp racecourse on Sunday 4th October. The Arc is due to go off at 3:05pm (BST), 4:05pm local time.
- Who will win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe?
Defending champion Daryz tops the betting, but faced stiff competition from two top-quality mares, with Kalpana and Friendly Soul both entering this year's Arc with a leading chance.
- How can I watch the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe?
The 2026 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe will be shown live on ITV Racing on Sunday, and on terrestrial television in France. Visit our website to explore live streaming options.
Verdict
Kalpana is our ante-post selection for the 2026 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
We've also backed Friendly Soul each-way at 25/1.
We've also backed Friendly Soul each-way at 25/1.
Kalpana
2026 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Tips
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Friendly Soul E/W
2026 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Tips
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- Varandir to win the 2026 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe -
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- Benvenuto Cellini to win the 2026 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe -
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Sports Tips Starts in
- 2026 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
- Daryz to win the 2026 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
- Maltese Cross to win the 2026 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
- Kalpana to win the 2026 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
- Diamond Necklace to win the 2026 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
- Thundering On to win the 2026 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
- Varandir to win the 2026 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
- Benvenuto Cellini to win the 2026 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
