CAPTAIN CLAUDE took our score for the season to 31 with a fluent success ridden by Ben Godfrey in a Class 5 Novice Handicap Hurdle at Fontwell on Saturday.
He was in front from half-way, soon pulled clear and kept on relentlessly for a pleasing first victory over hurdles.
It was a fine afternoon for our jockeys with Rex Dingle gaining the most valuable success of his career on Major Dundee in the Midlands Grand National.
Full marks to his agent Sam Stronge who snapped him up for what proved to a memorable first ride for Alan King.
Captain Claude is a bumper winner, a consistent type who we thought would be winning handicaps this season. While he lacks a turn of foot he jumps and gallops and handles heavy ground.
We felt Captain Claude’s turn was near at Lingfield just before Christmas but he stopped quickly that day after making a promising move turning for home. That was during a period when some of our horses were not finishing their races.
So we gave him a bit of time off and it was good to see him win tidily on Saturday off a mark of 77 in the colours of Decimus Racing V.
Captain Claude is a brother to two winners who reached peak ratings of 129 and 131 so hopefully he can progress again while conditions are in his favour. We will be looking for a similar race for him, maybe back at Fontwell.
Ben also had a lovely 2nd place for us on GOOD LOOK CHARM.
At Uttoxeter I was delighted with the run of SAM BROWN who finished on the heels of the placed horses under top weight on his return to hurdles while GUSTAVIAN jumped well and was still in the lead when he came down two out in a competitive novice handicap Chase.
