The late Duke of Devonshire achieved a certain notoriety in life through his use of the "V" sign and there remained a sense of raised fingers being aimed at presumptuous locals after Bachelor Duke's surprise success in Saturday's Irish 2,000 Guineas at a sun-drenched Curragh.

A race that most had narrowed down to a match between the top Irish colts Azamour and Grey Swallow, with Leitrim House cast as the main plucky raider, was blown apart by the 12 to 1 winner.

The big three did, indeed, look to have the race between them at the furlong pole but Bachelor Duke sped down the outside with the sort of elan that allowed him win by a length and no doubt would have been heartily approved by his late owner.

The Duke also owned the legendary mare Park Top whose loss in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe sparked some infamous booing by the Longchamp crowd.

The equally infamous noble response owed more to Liam Gallagher than Grace Kelly.

"A poignant moment," was how the victory was described by Bachelor Duke's trainer James Toller who was winning the first Classic of his 24-year career.

"It's a shame the Duke isn't here to see and Joss Collins, who bought the horse, is also no longer with us."

It was also a first classic for 32-year-old jockey Seb Sanders who reported that the victory wasn't a complete surprise to him at least.

"When I rode him work a week ago he was awesome so while I wasn't exactly confident, the result isn't a surprise," he said of the first maiden winner of the Guineas since Ballymore in 1972.

The St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot is Bachelor Duke's likely target next and he is set to clash again with Azamour, despite that horse's name appearing in ante-post lists for the Derby.

"In my mind I've ruled him out of Epsom," conceded trainer John Oxx who offered no excuse for the favourite's defeat.

"Azamour might, indeed, get further but I would like to give him another chance in the St James's Palace."

Grey Swallow has also been ruled out of Epsom but may yet get to take his chance in a Derby.

"He will either go for the Prix Jean Prat over nine furlongs or I may train him for the Irish Derby," said Dermot Weld.

"Pat Smullen said at Newmarket that he stayed really well and he had the same opinion today. It was just that he didn't let himself down the way he can in the final furlong."

Arakan was all the rage for the Greenlands Stakes but failed by a head to overhaul The Kiddykid after appearing to bet set a lot to do by Gary Stevens.

The winner completed a double for Jamie Spencer who had earlier won the Marble Hill Stakes on the 1 to 5 favourite Russian Blue.

Royal Ascot beckons for Soviet Song who won her first race since the 2002 Ascot Fillies Mile when easily winning the Ridgewood Pearl Stakes.

"If I'm bold she'll run in the Queen Anne at Ascot. But if I'm windy it will be the Windsor Forest Stakes," said her trainer James Fanshawe.