Duke Of Marmalade rules in Longchamp

Johnny Murtagh was seen at his strongest as Duke Of Marmalade landed the first Group One win of his career in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien won the 10-and-a-half-furlong event with Dylan Thomas last year and the Coolmore team will be hoping the four-year-old can emulate his former stable companion who went on to win numerous big races last summer.

Murtagh kicked his mount into the lead two furlongs out and despite the German raider Saddex looking a big danger, he held off the runner-up’s late challenge.

Favourite Zambezi Sun trailed home well in arrears while Richard Fahey’s Anna Pavlova was a late withdrawal.