THE two Group 1 races for two-year-olds at ParisLongchamp on Arc day were ever so slightly disappointing in the end. Not only were there significant defections before declaration (notably Anthony Van Dyck), both races were somewhat messy affairs.

Lily’s Candle ran the 1,600 metres of the Prix Marcel Boussac in a time 0.12s quicker than Royal Marine managed in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere 35 minutes later, though the latter carried 3lbs more.