THE favourite Tac De Boistron landed a back-to-back victory in the Group 1 Prix Royal-Oak at Longchamp last Sunday even though his preparation for the stayer’s contest had not gone exactly to plan.

Trained by Marco Botti at Newmarket and ridden with precision by Martin Harley, the grey seven-year-old held on well to beat the Prix du Cadran hero High Jinx by a length with Narrow Hill in third. He was a nose in front of the consistent Irish mare Pale Mimosa who had been in fourth place virtually throughout the 15 and a half furlongs.