White thinks Captain can rise up the ranks

Johnson White is confident Captain Hugo can continue his rich vein of form when he steps into Grade Two territory for the first time in the Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr.

The six-year-old, who only made his debut under rules less than 12 months ago, has won three of his five starts this season, including the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso in February.

Connections bypassed the Aintree Festival in favour of this trip to Scotland, which has got the Sandhill trainer excited.

“He came out of the Morebattle particularly well,” said White, who trains in partnership with Philip Hobbs.

“We never had any intention of going to Cheltenham, he did have an entry in the handicap that Melon won at Aintree, but I thought the Ayr race was more appealing.

“So we are going there, he’s in great form and I think the track will suit him. The race has cut up a little bit as well and I hope he’s got a very good each-way chance.

“He’s been unbelievable. The only time he hasn’t been in the first two was at Musselburgh on February 1 when I thought he had every chance still when he fell, and that’s bearing in mind that he hadn’t ever seen a racecourse until the corresponding meeting at Hereford yesterday.

“So to come that far in such a short space of time is phenomenal for a great team of owners, we are looking forward to seeing him run on Saturday and then he will have a nice summer holiday.”

Dan Skelton is usually walking his box at this time of year fending off Willie Mullins However, with the title already in the bag he can enjoy this meeting for the first time in a while.

He runs Tellherthename, who has been highly regarded by previous trainers Ben Pauling and Jonjo O’Neill.

“We haven’t had him that long and this is only his second run for us,” said Ladbrokes ambassador Skelton.

“He ran nicely at Cheltenham; he met at wall of horses in the County Hurdle but I thought he ran quite well. He looks great and we are really happy with how he has been since.

“He has had some issues in the past, but we feel like we are managing those and that he can run his best race here. The trip and ground are fine so I don’t have any negatives.”

Warren Greatrex’s All In You aims to bounce back from failing to finish in the William Hill Hurdle at Newbury in February.

“He started well for me, just touched off at Ascot and then won very impressively at Sandown,” Greatrex said.

“He disappointed at Newbury, but I just put that down to the ground, which was horrific, it was a funny day of results that day and he just never went a yard.

“So we’ve freshened him up and seems in good form. I think the ground should be spot on, we’ve no doubt ability-wise and he’d be competitive off a low weight. I’m very hopeful.”

Queenie St Clair hopes to add to last month’s Kelso win for Nick Scholfield, Tom Lacey has Gibbs Island and Secret Squirrel lines up for Hughie Morrison.