Kapstadt gets off the mark

Kapstadt got off the mark over hurdles at the fifth attempt when winning a low grade handicap at Newton Abbot.

He had decent form from his time racing on the flat for my old boss, Francois Doumen, in France, but he has proved a hard horse to settle in his early starts over hurdles.

There are few jockeys with better hands than Dicky Johnson, and he gave Kapstadt an exemplary hold-up ride, not putting him into the race until after the second last.

He then showed his old flat class to quicken up before the last and flew the final flight to win well.

Now that he has got his head in front, he maybe able to defy a penalty – or rise in the weights – and win again over timber, before trying his luck back on the flat later in the spring.