The Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe brings the Flat season’s leading middle-distance horses to ParisLongchamp on Sunday, 4 October. This is a provisional guide to the 19 horses remaining after the first forfeit stage. It is not a final racecard: declarations, jockey bookings and stalls are still to come, while several of the horses below retain alternative engagements.
Defending champion Daryz heads a group that includes last year’s runner-up Minnie Hauk, leading British and Irish three-year-olds, two Japanese challengers and runners from France and Germany. Conditions will remain important through the week, particularly for horses whose connections have identified a clear ground preference.
1. Daryz
Daryz returns as the defending Arc winner after his late success over Minnie Hauk in last year’s renewal. His current campaign has included victories in the Prix Ganay and Prix d’Ispahan before a return to Longchamp in the Prix Foy, where he again beat Bay City Roller. The Foy was steadily run, so it offered a limited stamina test, but it kept Francis-Henri Graffard’s colt on course for a title defence.
2. Saddadd
Saddadd is among the British-trained horses still engaged and arrives after a Group 1 success in Germany. Roger Varian’s colt has progressed from a promising three-year-old into an established Group-race performer this season. The Arc would be a further step up in depth, but that recent top-level form explains why he remains on the list rather than being an early speculative entry.
3. Chestnut Rocket
Chestnut Rocket represents Alicja Karkosa and is among the French-trained horses retained at this stage. He does not arrive with the headline Group 1 record of some of the better-known contenders, but his continued engagement keeps the possibility open ahead of final declarations. This would be a substantial assignment if he takes his place against established Group 1 winners and Classic performers.
4. Admire Terra
Admire Terra is one of two Japanese-trained horses still in contention. Yasuo Tomomichi’s runner brings an international element to the race as Japan again seeks a first Arc victory after several near misses. He is the less exposed of the Japanese pair in European terms, making the ParisLongchamp test an unknown relative to horses with recent French form.
5. Meisho Tabaru
Meisho Tabaru has the stronger headline form of Japan’s two potential representatives, having won the Takarazuka Kinen. That Group 1 success puts him among the more accomplished international horses in the provisional field. The outstanding question is how his established home form translates to ParisLongchamp in early October, but he is accustomed to competing at an elite level.
6. Arrow Eagle
Arrow Eagle is set to represent Jean-Claude Rouget, whose long training career is approaching its conclusion. The five-year-old won last season’s Prix Royal-Oak and finished sixth behind Daryz in the Arc. That previous Longchamp experience is an important part of his record, while the possibility of a final major-race runner for Rouget adds another layer to his Arc story.
7. Bay City Roller
Bay City Roller produced one of the season’s most striking staying performances when winning the Coronation Cup. George Scott’s colt then finished second to Daryz in the Prix Foy, run on a quicker surface than he ideally wants. His connections have been clear that ease in the ground matters to him, and he also has the Champion Stakes as an alternative engagement.
8. Tattycoram
Tattycoram is Ralph Beckett’s representative and comes into the picture as a Group winner. The filly has continued to progress through her campaign and remains among the British-trained possibilities after the first forfeit stage. Beckett has recent Arc-winning experience through Bluestocking, although Tattycoram would be taking on a different calibre of opposition if she lines up.
9. Light The Ghost
Light The Ghost is trained in France by Josephine Soudan and is one of the less familiar names for British and Irish readers. Her continuing place among the 19 gives the home team another possible representative beyond the leading French contenders. She does not carry the same public profile as Daryz or the principal British and Irish horses, but has earned her place at this stage of the process.
10. Minnie Hauk
Minnie Hauk was beaten only a head by Daryz in last year’s Arc, making her the returning runner with the closest direct form to the defending champion. Aidan O’Brien’s filly has had a mixed campaign: she finished second in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, then ran eighth in the King George before taking third in the Yorkshire Oaks. Her 2025 Arc effort remains the central piece of her profile.
11. Kalpana
Kalpana is Andrew Balding’s leading candidate after a season that has included victory in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. She followed that with success in the Yorkshire Oaks, where she edged out her rival after drifting right in the closing stages. Her profile is built around top-level middle-distance form in Britain, although connections have indicated that she is more effective on a sounder surface.
12. Sunly
Sunly remains on the 19-strong list, but her intended target is the Prix de Royallieu on the preceding day rather than the Arc. She is therefore unlikely to appear in the final Arc field unless plans change. Her inclusion illustrates why a declaration-stage list should not be confused with a final racecard: current indications are that Kalpana will be Juddmonte’s Arc representative.
13. Varandir
Varandir strengthened his profile by winning the Prix Niel, an established Arc trial, after earlier finishing second to Maltese Cross in the Grand Prix de Paris. Francis-Henri Graffard trains him alongside Daryz, giving the stable two significant possibilities. His form has come on varying French surfaces, from very soft to good to firm, which gives him a more adaptable ground profile than several rivals.
14. Benvenuto Cellini
Benvenuto Cellini is one of Aidan O’Brien’s three retained entries and arrives with major Classic form. He won the Irish Derby and later finished third in the King George, before using the Prix Niel as part of his Longchamp preparation. The colt’s staying record gives him a clear route into the race, while the final decision on O’Brien’s runners may be influenced by ground, jockey arrangements and stable plans.
15. Pearled Majesty
Pearled Majesty remains engaged for Mauricio Delcher Sanchez, though he also has a possible alternative in the Champion Stakes. His presence on the Arc list is therefore conditional rather than a confirmed plan. The colt is a French-trained prospect whose profile is still developing against the race’s more established Group 1 performers, but connections have kept the option open.
16. Bright Light
Bright Light is Germany’s potential representative, trained by Andreas Suborics. His presence gives Germany a chance to add to its Arc history, with the country having supplied several notable winners of the race. He is one of the longer-range names in the provisional field, but German runners have repeatedly shown they can compete strongly in major European staying contests.
17. Maltese Cross
Maltese Cross has developed into one of Britain’s strongest three-year-old middle-distance horses. William Haggas’s colt was second in the Derby on soft ground before winning the Grand Prix de Paris at ParisLongchamp, then following up in the Great Voltigeur at York under a penalty. His Grand Prix de Paris success is especially relevant because it came over the Arc course and distance. Connections have stated a preference for good ground.
18. Thundering On
Thundering On is Joseph O’Brien’s Oaks winner. She came from last to win that Classic by a wide margin, then returned to winning form in the Blandford Stakes after finishing fourth when dropped to 10 furlongs in the Pretty Polly Stakes. Her connections have indicated that she is suited by ease in the ground, and the Prix de l’Opéra is an alternative engagement.
19. Diamond Necklace
Diamond Necklace is the third Aidan O’Brien contender and one of the most accomplished fillies in the provisional field. She won her first six starts, including the French 1,000 Guineas, Prix de Diane and Nassau Stakes, before finishing behind Aventure in the Prix Jean Romanet on very soft ground. The Arc would be her first attempt at 2,400 metres, and she also holds a Prix de l’Opéra option.