Trainer Lydia Richards had misgivings when Dr Margaret Evans, the owner of star chaser Eau de Cologne, agreed to race her horse against First Gold and Marlborough at Sandown.

It was not because Lydia was frightened of taking on several of the best chasers in the country, but she knew the horse was unlikely to win and that a good run could result in a rapid rise in the handicap rating.

But, in the end, all was well, as Eau de Cologne picked up £11,000 for finishing third to Marlborough and has been left on the same mark by the handicapper.

Lydia said: "Eau de Cologne was beaten 17 lengths and, as First Gold failed to finish, I suppose there weren't grounds to raise him in the handicap.

"He ran up to expectations and, although he was hampered at the downhill fence at halfway, he was back on the bridle turning for home. He ran a super race and we are very proud of him and now he can have a holiday."

So Eau de Cologne will have the summer at grass at Lydia's Funtington (Chichester) stables, before being prepared for an autumn campaign.

Lydia's best flat racehorse has been dropped three pounds by the handicapper after a lacklustre performance at Sandown. She said: "That will help, but he's now an eight-year-old and he won't be improving much at that time of life."

l ARUNDEL trainer John Dunlop, still way ahead of his rivals on the domestic front thanks in part to his new gallops, has scored his first blow abroad.

The evergreen five-year-old Golden Snake, who failed to secure the support of breeders when retired to stud 18 months ago, won his fifth group one prize when making all the running in the one-and-a-quarter mile Prix Ganay at Longchamp.

His nearest victim was the Prix de Diane winner and Arc runner-up, Egyptband, which indicates that Golden Snake may still be on the upgrade.

All his group victories have been in Europe.

Dunlop said: "I would like him to win one in England and then maybe the breeders will show more interest in him."