Close second for Beau Ideal in G3 Prix Texanita

Beau Ideal ran on strongly to go down by a neck on his three-year-old return in the G3 Prix Texanita over five and a half furlongs at Maisons-Laffitte, France, on Wednesday, 9 May.

The Andre Fabre-trained Exceed And Excel colt, stepping up in class following a nose success in a five-furlong Listed race at Chantilly in October, was well away before being held up and racing a bit keenly among the 11 runners.

Beau Ideal settled in eighth under Mickael Barzalona before moving up to go into a challenging position, drifting left towards the stands’ rail He showed a good turn of foot and snatched second from Arecibo on the line by a nose, just behind the winner Alistair, who won in 1m 3.33s on good ground. The first three finished clear of the rest of the field, with the fourth Fastidious two and a half lengths further back.

Lisa-Jane Graffard of Godolphin said: “Beau Ideal ran a very good race on his first start of the year.

“Hopefully, he should improve plenty for the outing and we will discuss about where to go next with him.”