Racing:Group Captain delighted trainer Alan King as he made it two from two over timber in the 3rd Battalion Royal Welsh Novices' Hurdle at Taunton yesterday.
The 2 to 7 favourite made hard work of his debut win at Newbury, but the former classy Flat performer has obviously come on for the experience and knuckled down to collect by seven lengths.
Robert Thornton allowed him to stride on leaving the back straight and despite I Predict A Riot looming large at the second-last, he quickened away nicely for a cosy win - with the first two home pulling almost a distance clear.
"I was much happier with him today and he was much sharper, even when I was saddling him up," said King. "He could do with hanging onto for longer, but we decided to go on and put the race to bed.
"He wasn't doing a tap in front, but it was pleasing to see him go again when 'Choc' (Thornton) shook him up - I liked the way he quickened. He will be entered in both the Supreme and the Ballymore and we'll know more after his next race."
Stan James cut the six-year-old into 16 to 1 from 25s for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and 25 to 1 from 33s for the Ballymore Properties.
Cashmans go 25 to 1 for the Supreme, while VC Bet are 33 to 1 about Group Captain winning the Ballymore at the Cheltenham Festival.
Youghal native Denis O'Regan, whose move from Ireland to ride as first jockey to Howard Johson is working out well, rode his first winner at the track as he galvanised the Henrietta Knight-trained Butterfly Rose (7 to 2) to deny 2 to 1 favourite Spring Dream in the TBA Golf Day Mares' Only Maiden Hurdle.
"She is very game, but will be better when she goes chasing," Knight commented. "I might run her in the mares final at Newbury and then next season she will go mares chasing."
Pat Rodford ended a 253-day losing run as his handsome grey Treasulier jumped for fun at the head of affairs to land a 17-length verdict as the 15 to 8 favourite in the Orchard Restaurant Handicap Chase.
Cousin Nicky floored odds-on backers as he got the better of hot favourite Celtic Son in the southwestracing.com Claiming Chase.
The latter was a talented performer on his day and the David Pipe-trained nine-year-old went off the 1 to 2 favourite. But Tom O'Brien conjured a giant leap from the 5 to 2 winner at the third-last which propelled him clear.
Although Celtic Son stayed on after the final obstacle, he could not reel in Cousin Nicky and went down by a short head.
The Pond House handler had to wait until the final race to get on the scoreboard when the Johnny Farrelly-ridden Very Cool sprung a 33 to 1 surprise in the Thurlbear Handicap Hurdle.
n Trafford Lad will be given the chance to enhance his growing reputation on the grandest stage of all as trainer Dusty Sheehy eyes a trip to the Cheltenham Festival in March.
The progressive six-year-old went down narrowly to Venalmar after attempting to give weight to all eight of his rivals in the Grade Two Woodlands Park 100 Slaney Novice Hurdle at Naas on Sunday.
"The Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham will be his main aim," said Sheehy yesterday. "He has that Grade One penalty now and it's not really fair on him trying to give weight away, but at Cheltenham he will be meeting them all off level weights so the advantage will be back with him.
"He's very laid-back and he takes everything in his stride. He's an improving horse as well - he has just improved from run to run. He's come out of the race 100 per cent. There's not a bother on him and he ate up last night.
"To give 7lb to those horses, we always knew was going to be an almost impossible task, but we felt he could just be good enough to do it and unfortunately he just got beat."
Trafford Lad is now as low as 14 to 1 with Boylesports and Coral for the Ballymore Properties in March.
