Farinet

Farinet put up a good performance to take third place in the two-and-a-half-mile novices’ handicap chase at Haydock on Saturday.

Fairly weak in the market on this, his first run for Venetia Williams and his first in Britain, he led through the early stages of the race, travelling keenly enough. He was headed after they jumped the middle fence down the back straight, and he got in a little tight to the next, but rider Charlie Deutsch appeared to be happy enough to track the leaders on the run out of the back straight. He travelled well into the home straight too, but he came under pressure on the run to the fourth last fence as Galahad Quest, Marown and The Ferry Master broke clear. It never looked like he was going to get to the front two, but he stayed on well up the run-in to take third place, just five lengths behind runner-up Marown.

It was a really encouraging run by Farinet on his British debut, and his first since he finished second in a two-and-a-half-mile conditions chase in July on his last run in France. It was a performance from which he should be able to build, and he would be interesting if he stepped up in trip next time. He is only six and this was just his sixth run over fences, so he has lots of scope for progression. He will be of interest wherever he goes next, and he will be of particular interest if and when he steps up in trip.
Haydock 20^th February 2021