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Captain Chris Bids for Arkle Follow-Up in Ryanair Novice Chase
18/04/11

Captain Chris heads to Punchestown for the 90,000 euros Grade 1 Ryanair Novice Chase in an attempt to add the two-mile contest to his victory in the Grade 1 The Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Captain Chris
© racing-images.co.uk

Philip Hobbs’ charge, one of 12 entries for the Ryanair Novice Chase on Thursday, May 5, held Finian’s Rainbow at Cheltenham and that rival franked the form with an impressive win at Aintree recently.

Hobbs revealed: “I am very much intending to run Captain Chris as well as Menorah. Captain Chris has come out of Cheltenham really well and he is doing good.

“I would have gone to Aintree but there was no race for him there, so he will head over to Punchestown where we hope he can run another good race.

“He wouldn’t want it soft and I’m sure Punchestown will keep it safe.”

Paul Nolan has entered Noble Prince, winner of the Grade 2 Jewson Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham, while Paul Nicholls could run Ghizao who has twice beaten Captain Chris but was only fifth to his rival in the Arkle.

The Noel Meade-trained Realt Dubh held Noble Prince when winning a pair of Grade 1 contests at Leopardstown earlier in the season and was third in the Arkle at Cheltenham, while the Jessica Harrington-trained Saludos won the Grade Two Flyingbolt Novice Chase at Navan in February.

Also among the entries are the Willie Mullins-trained trio of Blazing Tempo, Tawaag and Quel Esprit.