Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe Betting Tips Following Trials Day (2026)

A look ahead to the 2026 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, with William Hill News analysing the antepost markets following an informative trials day on Sunday.

In what will be the last ever “true” renewal of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe before geldings are allowed to enter next year, DARYZ will certainly be flying the flag for the entires on the first Sunday of October at Longchamp after a dominant victory in the Group 2 Prix Foy.

Winner of the Arc in 2025, the French thoroughbred, trained at Chantilly by Francis-Henri Graffard, Daryz has now firmly established himself as the favourite in our horse racing betting for the next renewal, which will take place on 4 October.

Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe Antepost Odds:

• Daryz – 9/4
• Maltese Cross – 6/1
• Kalpana – 8/1
• Thundering On – 12/1
• Item –  12/1
• Bay City Roller – 14/1
• Varandir – 16/1
• Diamond Necklace – 20/1
• Minnie Hauk – 20/1
• Almaqam – 20/1
• Sunly – 25/1
• Admire Terra – 25/1
• Meisho Tabaru – 25/1
• Bar – 33/1

Making his fourth start of the year, Daryz’s first two races had resulted in victories in the Prix Ganay and the Prix Aga Khan IV (Prix d’Ispahan). He had not been seen since June, when he finished third at Royal Ascot, and was returning to competitive action after an absence of nearly three months.

The four-year-old should improve further for his Prix Foy victory ahead of his major autumn target in four weeks’ time.

On the same card, French-trained VARANDIR, also sporting the famous Aga Khan colours, won the Group 2 Prix Niel, another trial for the upcoming Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe but reserved for three-year-olds.

By doing so he registered his second Group-race victory, following his success in the Prix Hocquart earlier in the season. The colt came into the race having finished fourth in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris on 14 July over the same course and distance.

Back in fifth place entering the home straight, Varandir ran down the leaders before taking the lead 100 metres from the winning post, scoring by one-and-a-quarter lengths over the French-trained Alam, who came through on the inside to take second place, while Pearled Majesty completed the podium spots in third.

Varandir also has other options on Arc weekend as he is entered in the Prix Dollar and the Prix Chaudenay, two races staged at Longchamp on the eve of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe itself.

Trained at Chantilly by Francis-Henri Graffard, Varandir was bred and is owned by the Aga Khan Studs. If he does take up his Arc entry then the Aga Khan squad will look very strong indeed come raceday.

If you fancy Varandir to upset his older stablemate at this juncture in time, then he now a 16/1 shot in our ante-post sports betting for the Arc.

*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*