The flat season has commenced in style with Group Three races and a Group 2 having been run and already setting a high benchmark. Over the next seven months, the racing will continue to gain momentum leading to the season highlight – The G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2400m) at Longchamp on the first Sunday in October. Which horse will become the champion three-year-old of the season and who will etch their names into the history books in the 'Arc'? We preview the upcoming season...

Listed and Group Three trial races are currently being around the country for the forthcoming Three-Year-Old Classic races. This Sunday will see the running of the G3 Prix de Fontainebleau (1600m) for the colts and Prix del a Nonette (1600m) for the filles along with the Prix Noailles (2100m). The first pair of Classics will be conducted at Longchamp on Sunday 15 May with the running of the Poule d'Essai for the colts (Poulains) and Pouliches (fillies). Both races will be contested over 1600m. 

Following this race, the following week attention will turn to the jumpers where, for the first time, Auteuil will host a two-day Spring Festival weekend with multiple Graded races, the highlight being the feature race of the jumping calendar, the G1 Grand Steeplechase de Paris (6000m). This season an inaugural set of prescribed trial races at G2 & G3 level have been run Auteuil.     

The two big Classic meetings at Chantilly will be run in June – the first Sunday is reserved for the G1 Prix du Jockey Club (2100m), fast becoming one of the most sort after races on the global calendar as a stallion making race. Shamardal and Lope de Vega became leading European stallions following victory in the race (having previously also won the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulaines (1600m) three weeks earlier) and last years' winner St Marks Basilica also completed the double. He now stands at Coolmore in Ireland and will shuttle to Australia. The win gave trainer Aiden O'Brien his first win in the race. 

Two weeks later, the G1 Prix de Diane is run over 2100m. This is one of the best attended meetings in France each year. The mid-distance staying fillies would have previously had the opportunity to contest a 2000m Group One – the Prix St-Alary – run at Longchamp three weeks earlier. Last year, Aiden O'Brien was able to complete the Chantilly Classic double when Joan of Arc won the 'Diane'. 

July will see three big meetings. The month commences with the G1 Grand Prix de St-Cloud for the older horses run over 2400m and considered the mid-summer trial for the 'Arc'. The following weekend Deauville holds their first feature meeting of their Summer Festival with the running of the G1 Prix Jean Prat, a race restricted to three-year-olds over the straight 1400m. This race has grown in stature and significance since the distance was reduced by 200m and moved from Chantilly to Deauville. Just over a week later Vichy will host the G3 Grand Prix de Vichy (2000m). Run in the evening, with big crowds in attendance, last year Grand Glory won the race before progressing to win the G1 Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville the following month.  

August is the Deauville Summer Meeting with racing most days throughout the month at both Deauville and sister track Clairefontaine. Five Group One races will be decided. 

September will see the Prix du Moulin run followed by the 'Arc Trial Meeting', in preparation for the season Championship weekend and the running of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Weekend on the first weekend in October.  

Current Champions will have their crowns to defend whilst new Champions will emerge as the flat season in France gains momentum.