Captain ready for Collingridge debut

Classy dual-purpose gelding Group Captain is primed to make his debut for Hugh Collingridge this weekend.

Now six, he was unbeaten in his first three starts over hurdles for trainer Alan King and was sent off the second favourite for the Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, finishing fifth behind Fiveforthree.

Group Captain later failed to recapture for King the form he showed on the Flat for Roger Charlton but is impressing Collingridge and will either run in the Carlsberg Stand Cup at Chester or the Keepmoat Stakes at Doncaster on Saturday.

“His owner, Peter Webb, felt he was losing a bit of enthusiasm and as he had been at a couple of big yards, he thought he might be suited by a spell with us at Exning,” said Collingridge.

“The first month he was here was quiet and he enjoyed playing with the pheasants before we started stepping him up.

“He’s been working with nice 80-rated horses at home and being rated 105, he’s been working all over them so I’ve been very pleased.

“He will start off this weekend but wants soft ground so we will go wherever the ground is more suitable.

“The plan is then to look at some Listed races at Saint-Cloud, Chantilly and Baden-Baden and also thinking about the November Handicap, a race he won two years ago when it was at Windsor.”

Collingridge does not rule out a return to hurdling either.

“He could well do – all options are open,” he added.