FRENCH LESSON
THE French came and conquered but unlike in the past it was at Lingfield Park and not Hastings.
France celebrated a 1,659-1 treble from the four runners they sent over and, for many, the sooner the Channel Tunnel is closed the better.
Victories came with Christophe Ferland’s Funny Kid in the Marathon and the Stephane Wattel-trained City Light in the Sprint.
The final leg came with Lucky Team at 40-1 for trainer Joel Boisnard in the hands of Theo Bachelot who was also successful on City Light.
After Maxime Guyon came late on Funny Kid to snatch victory from Watersmeet, he said: “We had a good run through behind the second.
“The pace was not very fast but that suited me because Funny Kid has a very good turn of foot.
“I rode for Pia Brandt here a year ago. It’s the first time I have won at Lingfield and I am really happy for the team.”
However, Guyon is no stranger to success in this country on the turf as he partnered Solow to win the 2015 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.
Wattel was full of praise for Bachelot after his ride on City Light.
“I’m very pleased with Theo,” he said. “It’s not an easy track to ride but I am very pleased – this is my first winner in England.
“City Light was impressive in Chantilly last time and he improved for the all-weather last time and then we thought about coming here.
“There is no better place to come and win than Lingfield – it was my dream to win here.”
Wattel plans to return to Britain later on