Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere report: Rosallion back on song for Richard Hannon and Sean Levey

The highly-regarded son of Blue Point was on something of a retrieval mission in the opening race on Arc day and he delivered in spades as a well-backed 9/2 shot, having been tipped at 8s by our own Ben Linfoot.

Richard Hannon's colt had made a considerable impression in winning a maiden at Newbury and a Listed race at Ascot in the summer, prior to an odds-on reverse in Doncaster's Group 2 Champagne Stakes when last seen.

However, Rosallion was right back on song returned to a sound surface in the Paris sunshine, extricating himself from a tight spot on the inside well back in the field with a furlong and a half to travel. Jockey Sean Levey got to work once in the clear and the two-year-old showed a bright run of foot to take it up close home and win with a bit to spare.

Second went to Aidan O'Brien's Unquestionable (6/1) under Ryan Moore, with the 15/8 favourite and previously unbeaten local hope Beauvatier back in third having been last early on and failing to pick up in time on the wide outside in the home straight.

Sky Bet reacted by cutting winner Rosallion to 14/1 from 25/1 for next year's 2000 Guineas, while Paddy Power and Betfair go 16/1.

Levey said: “I was always going to win today. He had his ground and that’s how good he is.

“We always thought he was a good horse and the ground was the reason he ran like he did last time. We were worried about the draw and he’s done really well to win.

“I’ve always thought of him as a Guineas horse.”

Looking ahead to Classic date

A delighted Hannon said: “It was very sticky ground at Doncaster and he hated it, but I was so disappointed – I couldn’t believe he got beat. We scoped him afterwards and everything was fine and the only thing I can put it down to was the ground.

“Sean was as gutted as I was at Doncaster – I don’t think he said a word to me after he got beat in the Champagne Stakes. He couldn’t believe it either, that’s the sort of horse he is.

“Today was a recovery mission and you don’t generally come to to the Lagardere on a recovery mission as it takes an extremely good horse to win it, but he showed today that he’s the horse we thought he was.

“We always thought he was a Group One horse, whether that’s arrogant or not that’s what we thought. Today he never looked like getting beat.

“We’ll look forward to the Guineas now for next year. I wouldn’t rule it out (Breeders’ Cup), but I’m very happy to look forward to the Guineas. I haven’t had much luck at the Breeders’ Cup, obviously it’s got to change at some stage but I think it’s unlikely."

Aidan O’Brien said of Unquestionable and Henry Adams, who was fourth: “The trip was OK and both will be fine at a mile. Ryan (Moore) said he (Unquestionable) could be a horse for America so we will look at the (Breeders’ Cup) Juvenile Turf after seeing how they are.”

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