Captain Guinness

Captain Guinness was running a big race in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle when he came down at the second last flight. Henry de Bromhead's horse had travelled really well through the race up to that point, up on the outside, and his jumping had been great. He can been keen in his races, but he didn't look keen here at all, probably helped by the fast pace and the competitive nature of the race, and the fact that Rachael Blackmore got him nicely settled, in behind horses.

He was hampered at the third last flight when Asterion Forlonge jumped to his right, but he was back on an even keel and he was back there with a chance on the run to the second last. He was hampered again there though, at the end of the concertina effect, and he was taken down. Of course, we have no idea how he would have fared, and Shishkin and Abacadabras ran strongly up the hill and came clear of their rivals, but he was travelling well at the time of his departure. This was just his third run over hurdles, but he is built for chasing and he is such a good jumper over hurdles, that he could make up into a high-class two-mile novice chaser next season. He could be an Arkle horse.

Cheltenham 10^th March, 2020

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