Excellent result for O'Brien

Jamie Spencer picked up a ban after riding the colt to finish fourth at Longchamp and the former champion jockey again took the brave man's route up the inside rail.

He collared the pace-setting Duke Of Marmalade and Mick Kinane inside the final furlong, with Astronomer Royal, winner of the French Guineas, grabbing third.

However, the story of the race surrounded the dual Guineas winner Cockney Rebel, who, despite pulling very hard through the early stages for Olivier Peslier, still came with a run to win the race.

But just as he pulled level with the leaders, he began to hang violently left across the track.

It did not bother the O'Brien trio though as Excellent Art, unusually bought of the Neville Callaghan yard in the winter by the Coolmore operation, won by a neck.

Spencer said: "In France I did what I felt what was best for the horse. I thought he would have won easily there had he got the gaps.

"He's proved it. I got settled lovely towards the rear. They didn't go quick and that was my only concern, but once he got the split a furlong down he was always going to win.

"I always feel this is the race that counts for three-year-old milers. All the Guineas winners - the English, French and Irish - meet here. The best horse wins this race and this fellow proved it. He's a smashing horse to deal with.

"I'm thankful Aidan O'Brien and his team allowed me to ride the horse and had the confidence in me to leave me on him. I got the job done," the jockey told BBC Sport.