Captain in command for Hobbs and White

Philip Hobbs and Johnson White look to have yet another talented operator on their hands after Captain Hugo showed a tremendous attitude to make a winning hurdles debut at Newbury.

Sent off at odds of 7-2 in a red-hot Agetur UK 40th Anniversary In Business Maiden Hurdle that included the likes of Champion Bumper fourth Caballero Cliff and Olly Murphy’s half-brother to Jonbon and Douvan, Wilstar, Captain Hugo was always up with the pace in the hands Sean Houlihan.

Still travelling with plenty of zest into the straight, he took it up on the run to the last and although being all wrong at the final flight, showed plenty of spirit to repel Dan Skelton’s Sinnatra up the run-in.

“I was hoping I was unleashing a lovely one but until you run them you don’t know what you have,” said White.

“I was very pleased with him in his bumpers and his schooling has gone well and I was delighted with that. It was a hot race to be winning and in the next month or so there isn’t going to be an easy novice or maiden hurdle to win.

“He showed a very good attitude to get the last as wrong as he did and battle back as hard as he did from it and he’s got a brilliant attitude.”

Captain Hugo’s victory comes after Sober Glory’s impressive bow over obstacles at Chepstow on Wednesday, with Starzand another to impress for the Hobbs and White team in the early weeks of the jumps season proper.

The winner was made a 33-1 chance for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle by BetVictor, but White would have no qualms about heading up in distance as he now worries about splitting his aces.

“The three novice hurdle winners have done their job first time out, so I couldn’t be more delighted,” continued White.

“There are no particular plans and I think we need to sit down with the programme book and try to keep him and Sober Glory as far apart as possible.

“I think he will have to go up in grade and I think he will be more than capable of doing so. He’s athletic, jumps well and will get further than two miles in time.”

The afternoon began with a walkover after Fergal O’Brien elected to withdraw Sixmilebridge from the Cheltenham Festival Specials Live At BetVictor ‘Chasing Excellence’ Beginners’ Chase due to unsuitable ground.

Sixmilebridge’s defection left Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies’ Josh The Boss to claim the first prize, but speaking to Sky Sports Racing, O’Brien explained that it was “natures fault” and there was “no one to blame” after he felt sections of the track walked faster than the going description of good.