Kevin Ryan will target the Sprint Cup at Haydock for Brando after he claimed Group One glory in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville, where the hot favourite, Caravaggio, proved bitterly disappointing.

Brando began his campaign with victory in the Abernant Stakes at Newmarket in April and although he was down the field in the Duke of York, he bounced back to finish third in last month’s July Cup. Making his first appearance in France, Brando travelled powerfully in the hands of Tom Eaves and was produced to challenge Signs Of Blessing for the lead in the final furlong. Ryan’s charge saw out the six and a half furlongs well to hold off the late run of fellow British challenger Aclaim, trained by Martyn Meade. Richard Hannon’s Tupi was a clear third.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Caravaggio lost his unbeaten record when fourth in the July Cup and was odds-on to return to the winner’s enclosure. However, he made a tardy start and never threatened to land a telling blow, Ryan Moore’s mount having to settle for sixth in a tight photo for fourth place, which went to the Charlie Hills-trained Magical Memory.

Ryan had to shut down his yard completely in early June for a few weeks after one of his horses tested positive for Equine Herpes. “It’s a great day. We’re delighted with the horse,” the Hambleton-based trainer said. “He ran a good race in the July Cup and he’d tightened up since. He got a great ride and he was exceptional today. We’ll look at Haydock [the Sprint Cup, 9 September] next.”

Meade was thrilled with the performance of Aclaim, who was turning out just five days after finishing sixth in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood. He said: “It was a fantastic run. He was very unlucky in the Lennox. He didn’t have a hard race as he just got no run at all, which is why we decided to run him again.

“He was obviously in sparkling form today. I think a little bit more ease in the ground would have suited him better. We’ve just bumped into one too good on the day, but we were only beaten half a length and it was a great effort.

“We’ll see how he comes out of the race. I think the Prix de la Foret is probably what we’ll aim for, but he is quite a hard horse so I would imagine he’ll run again before then. I think seven furlongs is probably the ideal trip for him.”

O’Brien felt the race may have come too soon for Caravaggio, saying: “Maybe I ran too close after Newmarket.”

On the final day of the Galway Festival, the North Yorkshire-based trainer Brian Ellison achieved a remarkable one-two-three in the Ahonoora’ Handicap. Last year’s winner Dream Walker held off stable companion Baraweez to provide Ellison with a fourth successive victory in the valuable race. The trainer’s Be Kool finished third.

“Dream Walker just seems to come alive here,” Ellison said. “To come from last like he did is unreal. He’s run three or four times this year and never lifted a leg, but when he comes into form he’s great. He obviously loves it here.”

Elsewhere on the card, the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Abingdon was third in the Prix de Pomone won by Bateel, who was following up her Lancashire Oaks triumph for Francis-Henri Graffard.

Chris Corrigan’s tips for Monday

Carlisle

5.30 Space War 6.00 Buccaneers Vault 6.30 Castle Hill Cassie 7.00 Hanseatic 7.30 Worlds His Oyster 8.00 Miss Tree (nap) 8.30 Sheriff Of Nawton

Ripon

2.15 Elation 2.45 Bourbonisto 3.15 Cornborough 3.45 Signore Piccolo 4.15 Mysterial 4.45 Munthany 5.15 Computable

Salisbury

2.00 Ode To Autumn 2.30 Antagonist 3.00 Whitecrest 3.30 Awfaa 4.00 Delirium 4.30 Captain Sedgwick 5.00 So Sleek 5.35 Miskin

Windsor

5.10 Bhindi 5.45 Ode To Glory 6.15 Calvados Spirit 6.45 Clear Spring (nb) 7.15 Superioritycomplex 7.45 St Andrews 8.15 Zipedeedodah