WINCANTON 15:00

All 5 ran. Hurdles: 9. Race Distance Adjustment: +72 yds

Time: 5m 33.9s Closing Sectional: (6.6f): 98.1s (111.9%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 109%, Betfair SP 100.3%

There was a disappointing turnout for this fairly valuable handicap hurdle, and it was a steadily-run affair for the most part as well, the lightly-raced Captain Cattistock largely getting the run of things from the front, his talented rider gradually winding it up from the third last, but he was clearly the best horse on the day regardless, value for more than the winning margin in fact.

CAPTAIN CATTISTOCK was always well positioned making his handicap debut after 10 weeks off and justified strong support; made all, travelled best, not fluent fourth but jumped fine otherwise, tackled approaching last, stayed on strongly flat, had bit in hand; improving in leaps and bounds and likely to progress further, this just his fourth career start after all if including last April's point victory, only tasting defeat once in that time, and while his trainer has gone on record to suggest Captain Cattistock will not be overfaced this season, likely to be novice chasing before too long, he'd could now be aimed at next month's EBF Final at Sandown, for all that the demands of that event will be in stark contrast to this steadily-run small-field affair, one to be interested in whichever route he takes.

HURRICANE HOLLOW confirmed last month's return to form when finishing third behind Jenkins (who has gone in again since) at Kempton, unlucky to bump into an unexposed and well-ridden one here; raced wide, held up, went second early in straight, challenged approaching last, no match for winner but pulled clear of remainder.

JUSTIFICATION has slipped further in the weights and bettered recent efforts despite being not ideally placed in a steadily-run race, likely to be close to his winning Sandown mark from 12 months earlier when reassessed; in rear, awkward 3 out, ridden early in straight, chased leaders between last 2, one paced.

HERE'S HERBIE ran below form; chased leaders, untidy third, went second 4 out, ridden after next, weakened between last 2.

ON THE ROAD (IRE) was unsuited by the emphasis on speed back over hurdles but seems to have completely lost his form anyway; pressed leader, lost place when not fluent 4 out, left behind after next.