AIDAN O’Brien sent three runners to ParisLongchamp for the lower key Sunday meeting and came back with a listed winner in the Darley Prix Joubert, a race for fillies over a mile and six furlongs. The Galileo filly Lily Hart just went off favourite of his two runners ahead of Mother Nature.

With Christophe Soumillon on board, she held off Fairy Glen by a short-head.

There was another Irish winner on the card when Henry de Bromhead picked up another nice flat success in the Listed Prix de Liancourt for three-year-old fillies.

Alexis Pouchin partnered Higher Leaves to a three-length win in the mile, two and a half furlong contest, making most of the running in the colours of John Halley and Mrs Ciara Hogan

The Group 3 Prix d’Arenberg for two-year-olds went to Britain with O’Brien’s Treasure Isle only third.

Archie Watson’s Mehmas colt Asterious stepped up from a second place in the Molecomb at Goodwood to justify favouritism by a length and a half for Wathnan Racing and James Doyle over the five-furlong contest.

CRAON is not the most expected French track where you would be seeking Irish training success but there were winners last weekend on the flat and over obstacles.

Aidan O’Brien had sent Killarney winner Lambourn for the Listed Criterium de l’Ouest - Haras de Bouquetot, a mile contest for two-year-olds, and the son of Australia kept on well for Christophe Soumillon to take it by half a length, on going officially very soft.

In the Listed Grand Prix de Craon - 11th Etape du Defi du Galop, the Edward O’Grady-trained Ecureuil Secret just missed out on a win, going down by a head to the favourite Maniatic in the mile and a half contest.

Mage magic

On Sunday, James Griffin’s Roi Mage showed no sign of his 12 years when winning the Prix Super U - Grand Cross (Listed Cross Country Chase), over three miles and six furlongs and worth £34,000.

Ridden by James Reveley, he looked to enjoy himself, making a lot of the running over the twisty course and had a big lead entering the straight. Sweet David made a bit of a challenge but was still seven lengths behind the Griffin gelding at the finish.