Ed Dunlop's much-improved sprinter Monaassib failed by just half a length to land his first Group One race, when unable to peg back the Criquette Head-trained Occupandiste in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville yesterday.

Third place behind the front-running winner - ridden by Olivier Doleuze - went to Titus Livius with other British challengers, Godolphin's Kahal and Richard Hannon's Deadly Dudley fourth and fifth respectively of the eight runners.

Dunlop was far from disconsolate, despite the fact that the Daragh O'Donohoe-ridden six-year-old had beaten Occupandiste into fifth place when they met in the Prix de Ris-Orangis at Deauville last month.

Dunlop said: "I am really delighted with him especially as the ground was still riding a good deal softer than he likes. Next stop now is next month's Haydock Park Sprint Cup."