THE French were completely engulfed by the English in the Prix Robert Papin at Maisons-Laffitte last Sunday.

The visitors took the first three places in the Group 2 contest which went to Al Shaqab Racing’s Gutaifan in the hands of Frankie Dettori. They just held on to defeat Ajaya and Christophe Soumillon by a head and Areen ran on one-paced with Graham Lee to finish two lengths away third.