THE running of the Prix Marcel Boussac and the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere as consecutive races over the same distance of 1,600 metres at the start of Chantilly’s Arc day card made for some interesting one-on-one comparisons.

Neither race was run at a flat out pace, but nor were they especially slow, and the fact that the Lagardere winner National Defense could run 0.32s quicker (about two lengths) than the Boussac winner Wuheida, despite carrying 3lb more than that filly, reflects well on him.