Fanion D’Estruval

The other horse to take out of the Coral Gold Cup, as well as Corach Rambler, is Fanion D’Estruval, who did remarkably well to come from last place to finish seventh in a race in which six of the first seven home occupied six of the first seven positions jumping the final fence with a circuit to go. Fanion D’Estruval missed the break, he was last of the 15 runners jumping the first fence, and he was a detached last by the time they got to the end of the back straight first time. He remained a long last for most of the race, he had to have been about 14 or 15 lengths behind the second last horse as they turned for home, but Lucy Turner persevered, and he stayed on well for her over the last four fences to get up and take seventh place, just three parts of a length behind sixth-placed Annsam and less than three lengths behind fifth-placed Busselton.

It was a remarkable run by Venetia Williams’ horse. The worry about him going into the race concerned his stamina, racing over the longest trip over which he had ever raced. And there is a chance that, having stayed away from the hot part of the race, he just picked up the pieces late on, passing tired horses. Either way, he kept on well, and he remains a horse of interest. He is at his best on soft ground, and he goes well at Ascot, so he will be of interest if he goes there now during the winter. He holds an entry in the Silver Cup over three miles at Ascot on Long Walk Hurdle day and he will be of significant interest if he goes there.
Newbury, 26^th November 2022