Bigger summer targets ahead for classy unbeaten chaser Captain Tom Cat

Captain Tom Cat continued his perfect start over fences with a bold front-running display under Sam Twiston-Davies to take the 2m4f novice chase.

Sent off the odds-on favourite, the Richard Newland-trained six-year-old romped to an 11-length victory with an exuberant round of jumping.

Owned by Deva Racing, Captain Tom Cat enjoyed a prolific run over hurdles in 2020, including a big-field handicap win at Cheltenham’s October meeting, but the best is yet to come, according to Newland.

He said: “We were always very keen to go chasing with him. He’s a big, scopey horse, jumps for fun and enjoys front-running. He was brilliant at Aintree and he’s got another win to his name today.”

A return to Cheltenham in the autumn is a “definite possibility” for the winner according to Newland, who may have more immediate targets in mind.

“If he comes out of this race okay, we’ll probably try to get in another novice run and after that we’ll take a view as to whether we go for the big summer chases. The Summer Plate at Market Rasen and the Galway Plate maybe.”

As You Like powers home

The JP McManus-owned As You Like built on his recent better form to take the 2m7f handicap chase in dramatic fashion.

Trained by Jonjo O'Neill, the ten-year-old was four lengths down in third approaching the last before staying on stoutly to head the Oliver Greenall-trained favourite Furius De Ciergues.

He was 8lb below his last winning mark and his turn looked near after finishing third and second on his two previous starts.

Greenall gained swift compensation when El Borracho landed the 2m½f novice handicap chase.

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