Reliable Man is cream of crop at Chantilly

The grey looked to have plenty to do off the back of a conditions race win over course and distance a month ago but was well up to the task, emulating Royer-Dupre's previous scorers Darshaan (1984), Mouktar (1985), Natroun (1987), Dalakhani (2003) and Darsi in 2006.

Aidan O'Brien saddled Irish 2,000 Guineas hero Roderic O'Connor, while Godolphin's Casamento and Colombian from the John Gosden yard represented British hopes in the ten-furlong Classic.

Frankie Dettori soon had Casamento at the head of affairs, with Roderic O'Connor not far away in the hands of Ryan Moore, but both faded in the straight.

Reliable Man was ridden more conservatively by Gerald Mosse but quickened well once straightened up for home, finishing strongly down the outside of rivals to claim Bubble Chic, prevailing by three-quarters of a length.

The strongly fancied Baraan ran an incredible race to get up for third after a slow start and having been completely tailed off at one stage.

Gosden's Chester maiden winner Colombian, ridden by William Buick, put in a tremendous effort to be fourth, just edging French Guineas hero Tin Man.

Royer-Dupre said of the winner: "I think he is a great horse. His best quality is that he has a very good turn of foot.

"I was very confident today. I knew he was a very good horse. It makes me very happy that he is a son of Dalakhani, as he won this race too.

"If the ground does not become too firm, I would like to run him in the Grand Prix de Paris next. Then he could be a horse for the Arc."

Stan James cut Reliable Man, who was having just his third start having not seen a racetrack until April, to 12-1 from 33-1 for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The same firm also slashed Baraan to 8-1 from 20s for Longchamp glory.

Gosden was thrilled with Colombian, saying: "That was a super run, he's a lovely horse. He is out of a Linamix mare and he is still rather immature. I don't usually bring a maiden winner from Chester to the Prix du Jockey Club, and I think he would have loved softer ground like some of the other horses in the race.

"I think he certainly will be a better horse in the future. I will have to wait for the ground and this really was the plan. He is a young horse who has a great future."

Buick said: "I'm very, very pleased with that. It was a rough race. We went an even gallop and got racing early in the straight. He stayed on well and I think he will be a better horse with some give in the ground. I think he could well stay a mile and a half."

O'Brien said of Roderic O'Connor, who was a creditable eighth in the end: "It was very warm today.He got very warm, but I don't want to make any excuses."

When asked if he thought his charge did not stay the ten-furlong trip, he said: "It's possible. It's definitely possible. I can't say for sure and we will have a think and see where we go."