Snow makes fairy-tale return in France

British raiders pulled off a spectacular Group One double at Deauville yesterday. Reckless Abandon confirmed himself as exciting a colt as Clive Cox has trained when extending his unbeaten record in the Darley Prix Morny, but top billing none the less went to the remarkable Snow Fairy.

Racing for the first time since her latest big win in the Far East, last November, Snow Fairy saw off a strong challenge from Izzi Top for the Prix Jean Romanet, with Galikova back in third. Though her trainer, Ed Dunlop, had been happy simply to get her going again, she has now won six Group One races in six starts under Ryan Moore.

Patrick Cooper, racing manager to the owners, rightly acclaimed her performance as "amazing, quite incredible. We were never expecting to win, because she had been off the track for so long with a serious injury. The great thing was that so many people are happy she's won. She's a filly everyone enjoys. You'd expect everything she did last year would still be on the table: the Irish Champion Stakes, the Prix Vermeille, and go from there."

Reckless Abandon showed none of the wayward tendencies of his wins at Royal Ascot and Maisons-Laffitte in quickening clear of a smart field under Gérald Mossé. The Ballydoyle pair, George Vancouver and Parliament Square, finished best out of the pack.

"We're all over the moon," Cox said. "He's done it really well and it's been a wonderful weekend, what with winning the Hungerford with Lethal Force as well. It's our second Group One. Gilt Edge Girl won the Abbaye for us, but to have a two-year-old Group One winner is something special. The Middle Park would be the logical next step."

Moore also won the other Group race on the card, the Prix Kergorlay, on Joshua Tree – completing an impressive weekend for stayers trained by Marco Botti, following Jakkalberry's overnight success in Chicago.

The Turf Account

Chris McGrath's nap:

Strathnaver (7.0 Windsor)

Getting her act together now and improved again in defeat at Goodwood last time.

Next best:

Silken Express (8.00 Windsor)

Heavy support on her debut suggests she may prove well treated.

Where the money's going:

No Risk At All is 16-1 from 25-1 for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with Hills.