Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Runners 2025: A guide to the 17 hopefuls

One of my favourite meetings on the racing calendar, Arc weekend at Longchamp, is upon us. The big race is set for 15:05 on Sunday and 17 runners will go to post for the £2.3m contest.

Here's my guide to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Runners for the 2025 renewal, complete with the latest odds and my assessment of their chances.

Minnie Hauk (Aidan O'Brien/Christophe Soumillon) @ 7/2

The leading fancy for Aidan O'Brien and Ballydoyle. Unbeaten in four starts this season, completing a Grade 1 hat-trick by landing the Betfred Oaks, Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks. Hard to weigh up how her form compares to that of her Arc rivals, or if she'll be as useful on a softer surface, but the Frankel filly remains highly-progressive and it's hard to knock a horse who keeps winning. Only one winner from stall 1 since 2008, but it's a positive she's avoided a high draw.

Aventure (Christophe Ferland/Maxime Guyon) @ 9/2

Runner-up to Bluestocking in last year's renewal and the four-year-old daughter of Sea The Stars is arguably a better horse this year. Her only defeat this term was to King George hero Calandagan in the Prix de Saint-Cloud in June, but she was a comfortable winner of the Prix Vermeille over course and distance since. Huge chance, despite a less-than-ideal draw in stall 12.

Sosie (Andre Fabre/Stephane Pasquier) @ 8/1

Andre Fabre has won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe a record eight times, and this four-year-old Sea The Stars colt is one of his two runners as he looks to extend that tally to nine. Sosie was fourth in the race last year, three lengths behind ownermate Aventure, and you could also argue he's taken a step forward this term, winning two Group 1s in Paris. He was just touched off by Byzantine Dream in his prep run in the Prix Foy over course and distance and a bold bid is expected from stall 3, which has seen as many winners in the last 20 years.

Kalpana (Andrew Balding/Colin Keane) @ 17/2

Odds-on defeat at Kempton last month saw the Study Of Man filly lose her position at the head of the market for the Arc. It was reported she needed the run, but that was her fourth defeat in four starts this season so it's difficult to make too many excuses. If first-time cheekpieces bring about a significant improvement, she's bound to be there or thereabouts, but the suspicion is she'll bump into one again. Her draw (10) could've been a lot better too.

Daryz (Francis-Henri Graffard/Mickael Barzalona) @ 10/1

Sea The Stars colt is the sole runner for the late Aga Khan. Won his first four races, including a Group 2 at Saint-Cloud, before finishing last of six in the Juddmonte International at York. Improved to be a staying-on second to Criox Du Nord in a Group 3 at Longchamp last time out, which puts him right in the mix. Fine chance from stall 2.

Cualificar (Andre Fabre/William Buick) @ 12/1

Mr Fabre's other runner, sporting the famous blue of Godolphin. The Lope De Vega colt began this term with three wins on the trot, including a pair of Group 3s, before finishing second in the French Derby. Career-best win in the Prix Niel last time out and he should have more to come yet. Fine chance from stall 8, which provided the winner in Ace Impact just two years ago.

Byzantine Dream (Tomoyasu Sakaguchi/Oisin Murphy) @ 14/1

One of three Japanese raiders, all trading at 14/1 at time of publication. This four-year-old has taken his form to new heights this year and his beating of the much shorter-priced Sosie in the Prix Foy over course and distance last month gives him every chance, especially under the red-hot Oisin Murphy. However, his draw in stall 15 is a major stumbling block. He'll need to be every bit as good as connections hope he is.

Croix Du Nord (Takashi Saito/Yuichi Kitamura) @ 14/1

Japanese Derby hero comes into the Arc with a near-perfect record and his triumph in the Prix d'Orange, over Daryz and a nice type for the Gosdens, last time out is strong form. Again, though, he's been drawn out in the car park (17) which puts a huge dampener on his chances.

Alohi Alii (Hiroyasu Tanaka/Christophe-Patrice Lemaire) @ 14/1

Not only because of his stall position (4), this three-year-old must have as good a chance as any of those bidding to end Japan's Arc hoodoo on the back of his three-and-a-half length success in the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville in August, beating the talented Rashabar and the reopposing Cualificar.

Gezora (Francis-Henri Graffard/Tom Marquand) @ 14/1

Three-year-old Almanzor filly won the French Oaks and was just a length-and-a-half behind Aventure in the Prix Vermeille over course and distance last month. She remains totally unexposed at the trip and could improve further, though it's going to be tricky from stall 13.

Quisisana (Francis-Henri Graffard/Alexis Pouchin) @ 16/1

Le Havre mare is 6-8 in her career to date and she arrives off the back of an unbeaten season, culminating in a Group 1 triumph at Deauville in August. Needs to step forward again, but she can. Has a fair chance, at least of making the frame, from stall 7.

Giavellotto (Marco Botti/Andrea Atzeni) @ 25/1

Upset the odds-on Kalpana at Kempton last time out to add to his tally of high-profile wins - he also beat Vauban in last year's Yorkshire Cup and Dubai Honour in the Hong Kong Vase around Christmas time. Not hopeless, especially after a favourable draw (5), but a six-year-old has never won the Arc. It's worth mentioning connections are concerned about conditions, too.

White Birch (John Joseph Murphy/Dylan Browne McMonagle) @ 25/1

Needs to improve on what he's shown this season, but his three-length victory over Auguste Rodin in last year's Tatterstalls Gold Cup at the Curragh is arguably as good a piece of form as anything on offer from his 16 rivals. Stall 9 is fine too. Each-way claims for sure.

Los Angeles (Aidan O'Brien/Wayne Lordan) @ 28/1

Third in last year's race and looked better than ever when winning the Tatterstalls Gold Cup at the Curragh this May. Not in the same form since, but it would be no surprise if his masterful trainer has him back to his very best on the day. Not ruled out, though it's asking a lot of the Camelot colt from stall 14.

Leffard (Jean-Claude Rouget/Cristian Demuro) @ 33/1

The main hope for Jean-Claude Rouget, who's responsible for two of the last five Arc winners (Sottsass in 2020 and Ace Impact in 2023). His three-year-old son of Le Havre failed to fire in the French Derby but won the Grand Prix de Paris over course and distance immediately after in July. Eye-catcher on his prep run in the Prix Niel last time out and he's been handed the best possible draw in stall 6, which has produced the most Arc winners. it would be no surprise at all were he to outrun his huge odds.

Hotazhell (Jessica Harrington/Shane Foley) @ 66/1

Difficult to get excited about his chances going by his form figures of 3544 this season, but this is his first attempt over 1m4f and he beat the Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes hero Delacroix on soft ground in the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster last season, so he could be a completely different proposition. Couldn't put anyone off a small play at the prices.

Arrow Eagle (Jean-Claude Rouget/Ioritz Mendizabal) 80/1

Rouget's other runner and our rank outsider. Likely needs to find at least 10lbs of improvement to win this, especially as he emerges from stall 16. Probably the only winner that would truly surprise me.

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