Monday Racing Tips: Expect a Marvellous performance from the Captain

Jump racing holds sway across England on Monday, with two meetings taking place. First off is Kempton, before they go to Ludlow.

Amongst our fancies for the afternoon is one for trainer Jane Williams who won this very race last year, and she has another good horse lined up for it in 2023.

12:20 Kempton – Captain Marvellous @ 4/6

Trainer Jane Williams lined up Jupiter Allen to win the opening 2m Junior Hurdle last year, and she looks to have another strong contender this year in the form of Captain Marvellous.

The son of Masked Marvel was sent off at odds of 28/1 for his racecourse debut over course and distance last month, and he ran a cracker, running on fast and late into second, finding only Gifted Angel too good on the day.

Latin Verse was 11 lengths behind in third but he won a juvenile hurdle at Catterick emphatically subsequently, while the fourth, Mojo Ego, also went on to win next time out.

The form of the race couldn’t have worked out better thus far, and we can expect massive improvement from Captain Marvellous now with the run under his belt. He should prove hard to beat.

14:50 Ludlow – Feel The Pinch @ 3/1

Despite the race having just six runners, the 2m Handicap Chase is very competitive, and a chance is taken on Robbie Llewellyn’s Feel The Pinch to bounce back to winning ways.

The nine-year-old has been a revelation for the stable this year, winning over fences at Ffos Las in May, before adding hurdling victories to his resume at Bangor in June and at Southwell on his reappearance in October.

Feel The Pinch couldn’t quite land a blow in a very competitive apprentice handicap hurdle at Cheltenham last month. That was a 0-140 so dropping into 0-130 grade will be a welcome sight.

Llewellyn is having an above-average season thus far and this horse is still lightly raced over fences, with two victories over larger obstacles from five starts. Toby Wynne is in the saddle and he takes off a valuable 3lb.

15:35 Kempton – Toothless @ 13/2

Paul Nicholls had a tremendous day on Saturday, saddling four winners from his five runners, with the only blemish on the day being Bravemansgame in the Betfair Chase.

The Ditcheat handler sends two runners to Kempton on Monday and Toothless might be a spot of value in the closing 2m Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.

A son of Authorized, this boy won twice over hurdles last season at around this distance. He had a wind operation and ran a poor race at Plumpton on seasonal reappearance, but he ran a much better race with a tongue tie refitted when fifth at Ludlow when last seen.

Toothless had his first try at 2m5f on the day, and it was evident that he didn’t stay. Dropping back to two miles should bring out the best in him and he is down to a very lenient mark.