Dalakhani on top

Dalakhani boosted his claims for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe by returning to form in the Prix Niel Casino Barriere d'Enghien at Longchamp.

The Aga Khan's colt, trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre and ridden by Christophe Soumillon, won from Frankie Dettori's mount Doyen, with Kris Kin third.

Dalakhani, winner of the French Derby but beaten in the Irish equivalent, led inside the final furlong and had to work hard to hold Doyen.

As expected, Dalakhani's pacemaker Diyapour went straight into the lead and was stalked by Kris Kin's stablemate High Action.

I think Kieren was unhappy that Lerner was trying to ride our horse as well as his own Sir Michael Stoute

Jamie Spencer sent High Action into the lead on the turn for home and looked behind for Kris Kin, only to see the Vodafone Derby winner hemmed in on the rail.

Kieren Fallon was being kept in by Yann Lerner on Look Honey, and by the time he got out, Dalakhani and Doyen were away and fighting out the finish.

Trainer Sir Michael Stoute was pleased with the effort of Kris Kin but critical of Lerner's tactics.

"I think the two that beat us are good horses," he told the BBC. "He's lazy at home and needed a race to fine-tune him.

"Kieren said he gave him a great feel and he travelled really well. He just got tired in the last furlong and a half.

"I think Kieren was unhappy that Lerner was trying to ride our horse as well as his own.

"It was disgusting what he was doing. He kept bumping our horse."

Dalakhani is now 9-4 for the Arc with Doyen 7-2 and Kris Kin is 10-1.

Dettori went on better when he rode Mezzo Soprano, trained by Saeed Bin Suroor, to victory in the Prix Vermeille Fouquet's Barriere.