Fil D'ariane stuns defending champion to win Grand Military Gold Cup

Fil D’ariane has won the 2025 Grand Military Gold Cup over last year's champion Farceur Du Large at Sandown Park Racecourse.

Trained and ridden by Captain Doug White, Fil D'ariane controlled the race from the front with defending champion Farceur Du Large, ridden by Major Will Kellard, chasing him down on the final home straight.

Black Cherry, ridden by Bombardier Benjamin Durrell, rounded up the top three places.

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Capt White, who serves with the Queen's Royal Hussars, said that his win was a "complete shock" to fend off the reigning champion for the title.

He said: "It was a complete shock to be honest, I wasn't expecting it at all, but I loved every minute of it.

"I was expecting him [Will Kellard] to come zooming past me at any minute, but he didn't so there we go," he added.

Capt White will be aiming to complete the double when he returns for the Royal Artillery Gold Cup on 13 February.