Anabaa Blue takes French Derby

Anabaa Blue (blue and white stars) is the Chantilly ace

Check out live coverage of the Vodafone Derby meeting at Epsom on 8-9 June on BBC TV, Five Live and Sport Online.

Anabaa Blue caused an upset by winning the French Derby in Chantilly on Sunday.

Jockey Christophe Soumillon brought home the Carlos Lerner-trained winner, holding off the challenge of Chichicastenango by half-a-length.

The British effort was headed by Jamie Fanshawe's Grandera, ridden by Michael Hills, who finished third.

There was British success later as John Dunlop's Olden Times just beat Irish-trained King Of Tara in the Group One race, the Prix Jean Prat.

In the feature race, other British runners Sydenham and Musha Merr finished seventh and 11th respectively, while Ireland's Milan was a close-up fifth.

He ran a very good race and will be aimed at the Irish Derby

  Grandera trainer James Fanshawe

Anabaa Blue paid 8.6/1 for the win on the Pari-Mutuel.

Maille Pistol was sent off favourite for the French Derby, known as the Prix du Jockey Club, after winning two of the main trials in devastating style, but disappointed on the day.

And French trainer Pascal Bary, who has posted three French Derby wins since 1994, never looked like repeating the feat with Sensible.

The French Derby was not shown anywhere on British TV following a wrangle over rights.

In the nine-furlong Prix Jean Prat, Dunlop's colt, ridden by Pat Eddery, was much more at home after a disappointing run last time.

He had finished behind Vodafone Derby hope Dilshaan in the Dante Stakes at York.

Favourite Denon, trained by Johnathon Pease, could finish only third of the five runners.

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Prix du Jockey Club, 1m 4f, 1440 BST, Chantilly
1 Anabaa Blue,
2 Chichicastenango,
3 Grandera.
14 ran.

Tote returns: Win £9.60. Places £3.20, £4.80, £7.60. Dual Forecast Dividend: £61.30