There can be few horses in training more deserving of landing a Group 1 success than Richard Hannon's Dick Turpin, and finally that is just what the son of Arakan has achieved in scoring a scintillating victory in Sunday's Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly.

Having finished runner-up to Makfi in the StanJames.com 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, runner-up to Lope De Vega in the French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp two weeks later, and then filled the same spot behind stable companion Canford Cliffs in the St James's Palace stakes at Royal Ascot less than three weeks ago, the three-year-old was overdue a big race success and finally got what he deserved in beating Alain de Royer-Dupre's Siyoun by a facile four lengths, with fellow British challengers Xtension and Hearts Of Fire finishing third and fourth respectively in the Chantilly highlight.

Bred by John McEnery at Rossenarra Stud in County Kilkenny, and originally sold for just 12,000 euros before fetching 26,000 a year later at Tattersalls Ireland yearling sales, Dick Turpin won his first four races as a juvenile including the very valuable Tattersalls Ireland Sales race at Fairyhouse last August, before ending his juvenile seasonal running a very respectable sixth to Beethoven in the Group1 Dewhurst Stakes.

When he defeated his highly touted stable companion Canford Cliffs in the Greenham Stakes many people thought the run was a fluke, but when finishing ahead of that rival once again in chasing home the impressive Makfi in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, irish racing experts began to accept that Dick Turpin really was the 'real deal'.

Now, having struck a first blow in the top grade, there is every reason for racing tips for today to believe that Dick Turpin can go on to more success at the highest level and he may well be seen next in the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood at the end of the month where he could once again be set to go head-to-head with his old friend and rival Canford Cliffs. That promises to be a race to savour.