Andy Newton

2026 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe: Crack the Longchamp code through the draw

by
Andy Newton
30 September 2026

Widely regarded as the richest and most prestigious middle-distance race in Europe, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe gathers the world’s finest thoroughbreds for an unmissable showdown in Paris.

While class, stamina, and tactical jockeying are essential, decades of history show that one crucial element often dictates the outcome long before the gates snap open: the starting draw.

If you want to find the winner, watching where the contenders are parked in the stalls is usually the best place to start ahead of the ITV Racing contest on Sunday.

Race Essentials: 2026 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

Track: ParisLongchamp, France
Date & Time: Sunday, 4 October 2026 @ 3:05pm (UK / Irish Time)
Distance: 2,400 meters (1 mile, 4 furlongs)
Total Purse: €5,000,000 (€2,857,000 to the winner)
TV Coverage: ITV1 / Sky Sports Racing / Virgin Media Three
Race Favourite: Daryz (7/4)

ALSO SEE: More Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe trends and stats here.

The Golden Rule: Low Draws Dominate In Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

ParisLongchamp’s 12-furlong layout features a dramatic, sweeping turn where horses drawn high are constantly forced to either burn early energy crossing over or risk being trapped wide without cover.

Because of this, low stall numbers hold a massive bias: And backed up by recent results in the famous French race.

The Big Stat: Horses drawn 8 or lower have won a massive 20 of the last 26 renewals of the Arc.

Plus, when delving deeper into the top finishers in the race – this stalls bias paints an even starker picture of low-draw dominance:

2025: ALL of the top 4 finishers were drawn 5 or lower
2024: 7 of the top 9 finishers were drawn 7 or lower
2023: ALL of the top 6 finishers were drawn 9 or lower

Here are the winning stalls from the last 9 years – 2-3-8-6-12-4-3-6.

Key Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Draw Trends to Watch

The Defending Champion’s Advantage: Last year’s winner Daryz-who returns as the current market favourite-used stall positioning to perfection in 2025. He jumped from gate 2 to seal a memorable victory, leading home a top-four sweep for horses drawn in gate 5 or lower.

Stall 1 Poisoned Chalice? While a low draw is ideal, being trapped right on the rail in gate 1 comes with its own risks. The last horse to successfully win the Arc from gate 1 was Zarkava back in 2008. A horse drawn inside must jump cleanly to avoid being boxed in when the field tightens on the turn.

Keep a sharp eye on the stall numbers when the final draw is revealed-history tells us your winning ticket is very likely sitting in stall 8 or lower!

Last year’s 1-2-3 paid a dividend of £650.23 for a £1 stake.

When Is The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Draw?

Timeline of the 2026 Draw and Declarations

• Morning Electronic Draw (09:30am, Thursday, October 1, 2026): Final declarations close, and starting stalls are determined electronically under the supervision of a Commissioner of Justice.
• Evening Reveal Ceremony (Thursday evening, October 1, 2026): The results of the electronic draw are kept under wraps until they are publicly unveiled at the official launch event for the France Galop Live weekend.