Youm must be in-Zain (or how it could have been)

Mick Channon hailed Youmzain as "the biggest thief since Ronnie Biggs" after the gelding's unimaginable third consecutive Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe victory in Paris yesterday.

In familiar style, the six year-old swooped late under Kieren Fallon to nail Cavalryman on the line in front of an ecstatic crowd.

For Fallon it was an even more memorable day, barely a month after his return to race riding from a two year drug suspension, this was his signal that he is back on the big stage.

"The horse is quite remarkable," said the Irishman. "You can only hit the front late and he's a complete mongrel but I wish all my dogs were as talented as him."

Available at odds of 20/1, it was clear that the public believed his victories over Soldier of Fortune (2008) and Sagara (2007) were complete flukes and lightning doesn't strike three times.

How wrong they were though. Despite looking short of room two furlongs out, the son of another Arc winner in Sinndar, burst through to land the £1.6m first prize.

As to the future, another crack at France's premier race looks possible.

"We'll see how he comes out of the race and check that he eats all his pedigree chum tonight," said Channon. "When he wins we give him chicken and vegetable flavour - he loves it."

"I'd love to come back here because the bread rolls are delicious but I'm not really sure whether the track suits him."