FRENCH 2,000 Guineas glory escaped Wootton Bassett as Richard Fahey’s Malton-trained colt finished a gallant fifth at Longchamp in the Poule d’eassai des Poulains.
With the disadvantage of having a wide draw, jockey Paul Hanagan was forced to be handy on the previously unbeaten three-year-old from the start of the mile-long contest.
He made a brave attempt to lead from the front but was swamped at the furlong marker.
It was Tin Horse, beaten by Wootton Bassett in last October’s Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, who flashed home the quickest to take the Classic contest as Fahey and Hanagan were denied their first success at the highest level.
Fahey’s assistant Robin O’Ryan, speaking from Ripon, said: “Paul felt he ran a bit fresh and a bit free. He had no prep race and it was always the worry.
“He had to bounce him out to get a position and he just didn’t get home. He owes us absolutely nothing.”
But there was better for Sessay trainer David Nicholls, whose Inexile came out best in a five-way sprint to the line in the Group 3 Prix de Saint-George. He prevailed in a photo-finish with Captain Dunne, trained at Habton Grange by Tim Easterby, and Split Trois.
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