CRISTAL D'ESTRUVAL STORMS INTO ARKLE PICTURE WITH 12-LENGTH CARLISLE ROUT

Harry Derham's Cristal D'Estruval made a striking start to his chasing career at Carlisle on Monday, sweeping 12 lengths clear of the 147-rated Be Aware in the two-mile Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Graduation Chase.

Ridden by Paul O'Brien and sent off the 2-5 favourite, the five-year-old was returning from 330 days on the sidelines but showed no sign of rust. Dan Skelton's Be Aware, the 2-1 second favourite, trailed, with outsider All The Glory a distant third in the three-runner contest.

Long road back

A son of Crystal Ocean, Cristal D'Estruval was bought for £400,000 at the 2025 Tattersalls Cheltenham Festival Sale after winning an Irish point-to-point for Colin Bowe. He went on to win twice over hurdles, at Warwick and Carlisle, but suffered a near-hind fetlock injury in that second success last December and had not been seen since.

Derham was clearly thrilled with what he saw on his return.

"We hope this is the start of a long chasing career." - Harry Derham, speaking to Racing TV

Sandown next on the agenda

The trainer indicated the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown on December 5 is the likely next step, which would be the gelding's first taste of graded company and a proper test of his Cheltenham credentials.

Bookmakers reacted swiftly, cutting him from 50-1 for the Arkle Trophy at the Festival in March, with prices after the race ranging from 14-1 to 20-1. He was also trimmed to 33-1 from 50-1 for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase.