Captain Conan gets entry for Sunday's Deloitte Novice Hurdle
The winner of last month’s 32Red Hurdle, Captain Conan has been given an entry for the Deloitte Novice Hurdle, to be held at Leopardstown on Sunday, February 12. The five-year-old is coming to the contest after clinching a close win at Sandown.
In his debut race in France, he defeated, Colour Squadron, by a short head’s margin on January 7. Nicky Henderson’s trained displayed an excellent show, and maintained his lead after the last fence. It was a neck-to-neck contest, but the victory finally
went to Captain Conan.
The French horse is in a great rhythm at the moment, and his trainer believes the he will continue the good work in Sunday’s contest.
"Captain Conan worked very well this morning and I spoke to Barry [Geraghty, jockey] and he said why not give it a go, so the plan is to run," Henderson said on Tuesday.
He added: “He is a lovely big horse and he is a real chaser in the making, but there is nothing coming up for him in Britain so I supplemented him and we'll see how he gets on. We could run him in an ordinary race with a Grade 1 penalty and not find
out a great deal, so we'll let him take his chance and that will tell where he'll go for the rest of the season."
Captain Conan’s connections are expecting him to prolong his winning streak, however, it will be a tough outing. The horse will face Willie Mullins-trained Sous Les Cieux – another French horse who holds the ability to trouble the best in the sport.
The six-year-old could not shine in the Paddypower.com Future Champions Novice Hurdle in December last year, finishing third by a margin of 4 ¼ lengths. However, his veteran trainer will try to ensure no slip-ups this time around.
On Sunday, Leopardstown will also host Spring Juvenile Hurdle, Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Mares Handicap Hurdle, Dr. P.J. Moriarty Novice Chase, paddypower.com iPhone App Handicap Hurdle, Hennessy Gold Cup, Raymond Smith Memorial Hunters
Chase, and Kieran O´Connell Injured Jockeys Fund (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race.