Courageous Captain Teague 'will keep improving' after providing Paul Nicholls with record-extending sixth Challow success

Some reputations took a bashing in the Challow but Captain Teague's soared to another level as he strode clear of the field to provide Paul Nicholls with a record-extending sixth victory in the race.

It was a contest that looked well up to scratch on paper and that was a view shared by ITV Racing's paddock expert Ken Pitterson, who, pre-race, said: "You'd take any of them home."

The name, however, on most people's lips was that of Captain Teague, who runs in the familiar blue and flamingo silks of Johnny de la Hey and his wife Sarah. 

The pair savoured success with the explosive – but in-and-out – Cyrname, and are always on the lookout for more top-level talent. In Captain Teague it seems they have a potential ace on their hands, albeit one whose star dimmed when he was beaten at Cheltenham last time.

Winning jockey Harry Cobden copped some flak from Nicholls for that effort, but he mastered his rivals on the 2-1 market leader, who had Lookaway back in second, while The Jukebox Man ran a stormer for Ben Pauling in third.

The highly touted Willmount had seemed set to start favourite but was pulled up by James Bowen before three out, although trainer Nicky Henderson's assistant George Daly reported he was fine afterwards.

Captain Teague is 16-1 for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, which the Challow can be a neat pointer for, while he could also step up in trip for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle and is between 10-1 and 20-1 to land that.

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"He travelled well and jumped brilliantly," said Nicholls, who won the £85,000, Coral-backed Grade 1 with the mighty Denman and has gripped it with the tightest of fits in the last three seasons thanks to high-quality trio Bravemansgame, Stage Star and Hermes Allen.

"He idled in front and I said to Harry if he was idling in front to stride on and put the race to bed. He said he wished he'd hung on a little longer because the horse doesn't do anything in front, but he's learning all the time.

"He's a lovely horse and I'm thrilled, and he'll keep improving.

Team Teague celebrate at NewburyCredit: Edward Whitaker

"The best you'll see of him is when he goes chasing next season and he'll get three miles one day – he's a proper horse.

"I think soft ground is very important and if it was goodish ground at Cheltenham you wouldn't be afraid of going three miles in the Albert Bartlett and if it was testing ground, two and a half miles [and the Ballymore] is ideal."

Nicholls appeared to lean towards the idea of Captain Teague heading straight to the Cheltenham Festival in the spring, which the Ascot-based Johnny de la Hey – a hedge fund and finance wizard – would presumably have no qualms about.

He is among the leading owners at Nicholls' Ditcheat powerbase in Somerset and said: "This is pretty good. I spend a lot less than others in racing and, when I watch Irish racing, I see guys spending fortunes. I'm spending a lot of money and some are spending a lot less. Shark Hanlon won the King George with a horse [Hewick] who cost €850, but the reason Paul and I get on is that we like to win."

He can say that again, especially when it comes to Nicholls and the Challow.

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