Holdthasigreen tougher than the rest in attritional Cadran success

The seven-year-old Holdthasigreen shrugged off an absence of nearly three months to grind out an all-the-way success under Tony Piccone in the Group 1 Prix du Cadran, holding off last year's winner Call The Wind in a reverse of the one-two from 12 months ago, with 11-10 favourite Dee Ex Bee back in third.

Explaining Holdthasigreen's extended absence, former trainer and part-owner Claude LeLay said: "His first run of the year we put down to tiredness, but after he was fifth on his second run back we took some blood and he was sick. To win on what was effectively his comeback run over 4,000 metres [two and a half miles] shows an immense mental strength on his part."

Should Holdthasigreen recover well he will defend his title in the Prix Royal-Oak here in three weeks' time, a race in which he could meet Prix Chaudenay winner Technician.