No joy in France for Approve

William Haggas' Approve could finish only third as Spanish raider Irish Field took top honours in the Prix Robert Papin at Maisons-Laffitte today.

The Mauricio Delcher Sanchez-trained youngster was sent off at 9-2 having been narrowly denied in a Group Three at Chantilly on his latest start and was always travelling strongly for Christophe Soumillon.

The hat-trick seeking Broox tried to make a race of it but Irish Field was always doing enough in the final furlong and passed the post in front.

Norfolk Stakes winner Approve looked well beaten at the halfway stage but stayed on strongly in the closing stages to suggest a step up in trip could be in order.

The five British raiders were also out of luck in the Prix Eugene Adam as Alain de Royer-Dupre's Shimraan ran out an impressive winner.

Clive Cox's pair of Xtension and Black Spirit fared best in fourth and fifth respectively but never looked like winning at any stage.

Richard Hannon's Quadrille, Godolphin's Emerald Commander and John Gosden's Azmeel were all well beaten.

The winner was having just his third race and held off Czech challenger Shamalgan under Gerald Mosse to score comfortably.