chased clear leader, reminders 5th and soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
chased clear leader, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
held up, headway 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened next
led, soon clear, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened from next, hit last
held up, headway 4th, led and hit 3 out, ridden and headed next, every chance last, not quicken towards finish
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, led 2 out, kept on under pressure flat, held on well towards finish
held up, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
Sea Captain is taken to gain revenge over Mighty Man, with Dusky Warbler and Marcel other leading players. The key to this race, in which by the way the favourite has been beaten in each of the last five runnings, could be the novice event at Sandown in which Mighty Man got the better of Sea Captain. Mighty Man looked beaten as they turned into the straight, but knuckled down well to wear down Nicky Henderson's charge and in the end win by a length. The feeling is that Mick Fitzgerald had committed too soon on Sea Captain, and the persistence of Richard Johnson paid off in the end. Granted that Mighty Man has a bright future and he is still unbeaten, but tactics will play a part here for sure, and we reckon that Sea Captain will be able to utilise his turn of foot on a track that will suit his style of running. Both horses missed Cheltenham to wait for this and it should be some battle between the pair. Dusky Warbler had Marcel well behind when third in the Supreme Novices Hurdle, and should again come out on top over Pipe's inmate who may have had enough after a busy, but admittedly profitable campaign. Astronomic is hard to fancy on recent efforts as is Napolitan, but it would be no surprise if Nyrche stepped up another gear to run well at decent odds. Sea Captain has a turn of foot though and can use it to good effect here.
Astronomic 11-2 Held up, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, last of 5, 47l behind Roman Ark at Haydock 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (A) hvy in Jan.
Marcel (FR) 13-2fav Held up in rear, headway into mid-division from 4th, ridden and beaten after 3 out, 13th of 20, 31l behind Arcalis at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (A) gd in Mar.
Nyrche (FR) 7-2 Held up, headway 5th, led last, ridden out, won at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gd in Mar beating Lunar Crystal by 6l, 11 ran.
Napolitain (FR) 22-1 Mid-division, headway on inside approaching 3 out, outpaced after 2 out, no danger after, 9th of 24, 17l behind Dabiroun at Cheltenham 2m 3yo hcp hdl (A) gd in Mar.
Dusky Warbler 20-1 Held up in mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, chased leaders last, edged left and kept on under pressure flat, 3rd of 20, 7l behind Arcalis at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (A) gd in Mar.
Mighty Man (FR) 6-4 Held up, headway to chase leaders after 3 out, ridden to join leader 2 out, driven ahead run in, won at Sandown 2m nh nov hdl (D) gd in Mar beating Sea Captain by 1l, 9 ran.
Sea Captain 5-4fav Keen, held up, good headway to lead soon after 5th, still travelling well last, headed run in, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Mighty Man at Sandown 2m nh nov hdl (D) gd in Mar.
