Richard Hannon’s Trumpet Major ran a fine race on unsuitable ground to finish fourth to the impressive Camelot in the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, on Saturday. His lesser fancied stable companion, Coupe De Ville, also ran a cracker, just a nose away in fifth, to hint that he might land a good prize before this season is out, writes Elliot Slater.

Going into the first colts’ classic of the season, rated 11lbs inferior to his more lauded stablemate, Coupe De Ville had run fifth over 10 furlongs in the Tattersalls Millions race at the Craven meeting behind another Hannon inmate, Rougemont.

Clearly there were few stamina worries for a horse who had won over a mile as a juvenile, and is bred to stay, his dam being a daughter of Fantastic Light.

Drawn towards the far side of the track, Coupe De Ville settled at the back of the four-runner group that raced apart from the main body of the field, which came centre to stands side, before making his move two furlongs from home under champion jockey, Paul Hanagan.

Keeping on well to chase home Hermival, who came through to win his race on the far side, and finish third overall, Hannon’s colt covered himself in glory, in finishing fifth at odds of 66/1. Have a bet on racing on Bet Victor.

There appeared no semblance of a fluke about the three-year-old’s fine effort, and his shrewd handler will now be drawing up a battle plan for a horse who seems to be improving, having appeared to many, last season, to be a typically smart juvenile who might not train on in his second season. 

Holding no fancy entries at this stage, Coupe de Ville would need to be supplemented, if he is to have a crack at another classic, so it might be that connections wait until Royal Ascot for his next outing, or look to gain pattern race success on the continent, where his style of racing should serve the Clodovil colt well.

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