HAVING twice won over hurdles CAP DU MATHAN (3.45) has steadily improved this season since taking to the bigger obstacles.
After placed efforts at Wincanton and Hereford the eight-year-old scored his first chase victory in a novice handicap at Taunton in January, with a comfortable two-and-a-half-length success over Earth Company.
Paul Nicholls’ charge then followed up at Exeter 17 days ago in a 2m 3f novice chase, this time beating the odds-on favourite Lac De Constance by an effortless 17 lengths. He jumps well and can complete the hat-trick in the John Romans Park Homes Handicap Chase over an extra furlong.
The step up to two and a half miles should be ideal for SWEET MAGIC (3.25) in the Every Race Live On Racing TV Mares' Handicap Hurdle at Musselburgh.
The five-year-old ran in a couple of Irish bumpers last term, finishing in the frame at Kilbeggan, before heading to Alastair Ralph’s yard and being sent over hurdles.
The mare was given a tough test on her debut, finishing fourth of five, 11 lengths behind Carole’s Pass, in a mares’ novices’ hurdle at Newbury, but she showed plenty of promise at Uttoxeter in January, running on in the closing stages to finish third behind Astromachia in a two-mile maiden hurdle.
Wednesday's selections
MUSSELBURGH
1.50 VE DAY
2.20 CARTONNE
2.50 QUIET FLOW
3.25 SWEET MAGIC (NB)
3.55 HIDALGO DE L'ISLE
4.25 CROAGH PATRICK
5.00 SALVATORE
LINGFIELD
2.00 HE'S OUR STAR
2.30 TWO DESSERTS
3.00 EXPERT OPINION
3.35 NAASER
4.05 LORD CLENAGHCASTLE
4.35 SAUSALITO
5.10 GLOBAL WONDER
WINCANTON
2.10 OUTLAW PETER
2.40 TOOTHLESS
3.10 DOYANNIE
3.45 CAP DU MATHAN (NAP)
4.15 HITITI
4.45 IVETWIGGEDIT
5.20 MAGIC SAINT
KEMPTON
4.55 DAPHNE MAY
5.30 THINK TRIGGER
6.00 WAKE UP HARRY
6.30 MY SONG FOR YOU
7.00 RING OF GOLD
7.30 JUST BRING IT
8.00 ALTERNATIVA
8.30 ELISHEVA
DOUBLE: CAP DU MATHAN and SWEET MAGIC
