21st Sep 2016 | Horse Racing
Redcar Tips: Captain Dunne
Found the good to firm ground he needs and dropping down in grade after being forced to set a very strong pace at Chester last time.
Having started the season rated 84 it’s hard not to argue that Captain Dunne is on the decline. Age is catching up with the 11-year-old but his mark has tumbled and off 66 there might be one last hurrah.
Last time out he set a ferocious gallop at Chester (97.4% race finishing speed) he was unable to sustain and faded badly in the final 200 yards. It is easy to blame the jockey for getting the fractions wrong but against better horses he was forced to run too fast.
In the 3.20 Redcar he drops into class 5 company (class 4 last time) and he will find it easier to dominate slower horses.
To be at his best Captain Dunne needs good to firm ground, something he’s not got recently but did find over course and distance in May when he was only beaten 1.5 lengths in a better race.
The last time he raced in class 5 company on good to firm ground was at Thirsk in 2014, a race he won. There is a concern that in a big field he will suffer too much pace pressure but he’s shown enough to suggest he can win off this sort of mark.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 02:06 21st Sep, 2016 but subject to change
