The eyes of the racing world will turn to Paris this weekend as the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe takes centre stage.
A 16-strong field will jump for the most prestigious European middle distance contest on the calendar, with each runner boasting their own unique and interesting claims.
France, Britain, Ireland, Germany and Japan all have contenders, creating a truly international contest that brings together a whole host of trainers, jockeys, pedigrees and form lines from across the globe.
With that in mind, we've pieced together a runner-by-runner guide to help familiarise yourself with the field...
1. Daryz
Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard
Jockey: Mickael Barzalona
Form: 1-1131
Stall: 5
Odds: 6/4
Winner of the race 12 months ago, Daryz is a worthy favourite this time around.
Just like 2025, he was defeated on his sole start in the UK, but he will be suited by a return to Longchamp where his form reads 11121111.
Suited by all types of ground; he beat Bay City Roller to win the Group 1 Prix Foy last time out.
Stall five is a favourable draw.
2. Saddadd
Trainer: Roger Varian
Jockey: Ray Dawson
Form: 3-1341
Stall: 9
Odds: 40/1
Saddadd broke through at the top level in the 156th Grosser Preis von Baden in September after being found wanting in two Group 1s prior to that effort.
Hard to know what he achieved that day but he may be more suited to a mile-and-a-half more so than the 1m2f that he had been tried over in his previous seven visits to the track.
Improvement needed, but ground should be no issue.
3. Chestnut Rocket
Trainer: Alicja Karkosa
Jockey: Marvin Grandin
Form: -26512
Stall: 2
Odds: 200/1
Connections will be hoping for a deluge in the French capital if Chestnut Rocket if going to be seen to best effect.
The son of Intello has won on good to soft in the past, however, his best performance probably came last time out when runner-up to Al Aasy in the Grand Prix de Deauville on heavy.
He jumps from last year's winning stall of two.
4. Admire Terra
Trainer: Yasuo Tomomichi
Jockey: Cristian Demuro
Form: P0-139
Stall: 12
Odds: 66/1
Admire Terra is the first of two hoping to bring the Arc back to Japan for the very first time.
The five-year-old is probably suited to a little further than the trip that he will encounter on Sunday, given that his best two outings came over 1m7f and 2m in Japan.
He needs to overcome a poor effort in the Sapporo Kinen where he finished ninth.
5. Meisho Tabaru
Trainer: Mamoru Ishibashi
Jockey: Yutaka Take
Form: 160-21
Stall: 13
Odds: 33/1
Probably the most credible of Japan’s two in the race, this five-year-old recorded a career best when beating Croix De Nord at Hanshin earlier this summer.
Victory on yielding that day provides hope that he could handle conditions if they got a little testing.
6. Arrow Eagle
Trainer: J-C Rouget
Jockey: Ioritz Mendizabal
Form: 61-473
Stall: 14
Odds: 100/1
A never-nearer sixth in the race last year, Arrow Eagle is Jean-Claude Rouget’s final runner in the Arc.
He stays the trip very well and is probably better over further; vast improvement is needed, though.
7. Bay City Roller
Trainer: George Scott
Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Form: 1-2212
Stall: 15
Odds: 33/1
Twice successful at Group 1 level, Bay City Roller has been an excellent servant for George Scott and landed the Coronation Cup earlier in the summer.
His run behind Daryz last time out was encouraging but he will probably need soft ground if he stands any chance of reversing that form.
Connections won't be too pleased with gate 15.
8. Minnie Hauk
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Jockey: William Buick
Form: -15283
Stall: 10
Odds: 20/1
Runner-up 12 months ago, this season has not gone quite to plan for Aidan O’Brien’s filly.
Since winning the Mooresbridge Stakes at 4/6, she has suffered defeat on each of her last four starts and really needs to bounce back to the level that she showed when winning three Group 1s last campaign.
9. Kalpana
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Colin Keane
Form: 1-1211
Stall: 6
Odds: 6/1
Owners Juddmonte have a spectacular record in the race, especially with fillies, and Kalpana could provide them with an eighth Arc victory.
Andrew Balding’s stable star took her form to a new level when winning the King George at Ascot in July and, despite landing the Yorkshire Oaks the following month, looked to be feeling the effects of that effort.
Six is the winning-most stall in the race since 1988.
10. Friendly Soul
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Jockey: James Doyle
Form: 1/P321
Stall: 7
Odds: 25/1
It was hard to know what to expect of Friendly Soul when she returned from a 594-day layoff this season, but she has very much picked up from where she left off.
She finished behind Diamond Necklace in the Nassau before earning free supplementary entry into the Arc when landing the Prix Vermeille over course and distance on Arc Trials Day.
11. Varandir
Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard
Jockey: Clement Lecoeuvre
Form: 11141
Stall: 4
Odds: 12/1
Winner of four of his five starts under rules, Varandir has a fairly interesting profile for the race.
At three he will be the beneficiary of hefty weight allowances and his sole defeat at the hands of Maltese Cross by just three-quarters-of-a-length. More is needed on what he has achieved so far, though.
12. Benvenuto Cellini
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Form: -1V135
Stall: 1
Odds: 12/1
The son of Frankel rather blotted his copybook when putting in a very below-par effort on Arc Trials Day and needs to bounce back if he stands any chance of winning.
Ground looks fairly key to his chances with quick conditions more to his liking. He has clear talent being an Irish Derby winner and King George third.
13. Bright Light
Trainer: Andreas Suborics
Jockey: Benjamin Marie
Form: 124523
Stall: 8
Odds: 100/1
Germany are always interesting in this race, but vast improvement will be required if Bright Light is to pass the post in first.
He has just success to his name, has never won at Group level and was third behind Saddadd last time out.
14. Maltese Cross
Trainer: William Haggas
Jockey: Tom Marquand
Form: -11211
Stall: 11
Odds: 9/2
The market has Maltese Cross down as Britain’s greatest hope and on paper it is easy to why.
Ground conditions look likely to be in his favour, he gets weight as a Classic colt and landed the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris earlier in the season.
Connections have been very bullish in the build-up and he looks to be improving with each run.
Stall 11 isn't insurmountable, but he could been drawn better.
15. Thundering On
Trainer: Joseph O'Brien
Jockey: Pierre-Charles Boudot
Form: -21141
Stall: 3
Odds: 9/1
Being a three-year-old filly gives you significant weight advantages in the Arc, in fact, she will carry 11lbs less than Daryz.
She won the Oaks for Joseph O’Brien back in June and connections will be doing a bit of a rain dance before Sunday’s race.
16. Diamond Necklace
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Jockey: Cristophe Soumillon
Form: 1-1112
Stall: 16
Odds: 12/1
Another getting huge weight from the boys, Diamond Necklace is a two-time Classic winner in France and has fair claims on paper.
Connections have remained hopeful of a good performance, even despite forfeiting her unbeaten record last time out when Aventure got the better of her in the Prix Jean et Louis Romanet.
She is ground versatile but prefers it fast.
Posted out widest of all, jockey Cristophe Soumillon will have to be at the top of his game; we have seen that before, however.
Any odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.
