French Charm lands the QEII Charm Spirit gave the French their first winner in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes for 21 years when powering home in a messy race for the mile Group One contest at Ascot. Olivier Peslier managed to find a gap on Freddy Head's three-year-old and had enough in hand to hold the unlucky-in-running Night Of Thunder. The 5-1 shot got home by half a length from Richard Hannon's 2-1 favourite, with the runner-up's stablemate Toormore just behind in third. Top Notch Tonto was quick to grab the stands rail and lead from Custom Cut, with Kingsbarns and Brendan Brackan close up. Richard Hughes had to bide his time at the rear of the field on Night Of Thunder and switched in an attempt to find some room. By the time Hughes had extricated his mount, Charm Spirit had squeezed past Tullius and had flown into the lead, and the best Night Of Thunder could do was claim second spot. Last year's champion two-year-old Toormore ran his best race of the season in third place, another half a length in arrears. Charm Spirit was fifth behind Night Of Thunder in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, but has since won four races on the spin - three of which were at the highest level. The high-class colt was last seen in action in the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp, where he defeated the Hannon-trained Toronado by a head, with Night Of Thunder a close-up third. Head said: "It's fantastic. I'm delighted, I could not ask for more. He ran a great race and was given a great ride by Olivier Peslier. He's not a horse that can win by five lengths, but you can't beat him. "He was stiff after the Guineas, but I knew the horse was a much better horse today, but it's always difficult to come here and win. He showed he can really stay - he's a real fighter. He's a very good horse." Peslier added: "I came a little bit early, but he was very generous for me. He was always in front and it was a really good win. It is wonderful." Hannon said of his duo: "I think he (Night Of Thunder) was probably slightly unlucky, and so was Toormore, but that's racing. They both stay in training and that gives us a lot of hope for next year." Hughes said of the runner-up: "I managed to get on Peslier's back at the two-pole and then there was a gap I wanted to go for, but I didn't have the horse to do it. "I had a chance in the final furlong but the other one (Charm Spirit) was very tough. You've got to be quick to take those gaps." Tim Palin, racing manager for Toormore's owners, Middleham Park Racing, was thrilled to see their representative return to form. He said: "He's back, that's the main thing. Maybe he was a bit unlucky, but we've got next year to look forward to. I imagine he and Night Of Thunder will start off in the Lockinge and now we know he goes on soft ground we can bob and weave."
