Lofty Targets for Unbeaten Crystal Ocean Gelding After Carlisle Romp

Cristal d'Estruval (4g Crystal Ocean - Aurore D'Estruval, by Nickname) retained his unbeaten record with a 38-length victory at Carlisle and looks set to run in Graded company next.

The exciting son of Crystal Ocean sold to Ed Bailey and Harry Derham for £400,000 at this year’s Tattersalls Cheltenham Festival Sale following a point-to-point win at Lisronagh for Colin Bowe in February.

Cristal d'Estruval made it two wins from two starts under rules on Sunday when registering a comprehensive success under Paul O'Brien. The gelding could now take in a Supreme Novices' Hurdle trial before a potential tilt at the Cheltenham Festival.

Derham said: “I wanted to get another run into him before going into something better, I think this is a great track and it was nice, safe ground.

"He won't have learned much today. In a perfect world he'd have come here, did that and then there's a Supreme trial at Haydock in a month's time. I wouldn't run him on desperate ground as he has a good action, as long as it wasn't bottomless I'd look to run him at Haydock."

He added: "I don't think it's mental to say he can run at Cheltenham, I think he's a good horse. I think his trip will eventually be further than two miles."

Cristal d'Estruval was bred by The Beeches Stud and Grange Stud.