4.40 Nottingham
Captain Cardington 16/1
If discounting his last run which may have come too soon, I think Mick Channon's 3 year old looks very overpriced. He makes his return to turf for the first time since November where he finished a decent 2nd off a 2lb higher mark and on the basis of that and some of his other efforts I think he could be easily able to exploit his handicap mark of 66. On his 2nd career start back in June of last year, Captain Cardigan ran out an impressive winner of a maiden at Epsom. The form of that race looks strong , with the 2nd performing admirably off a mark of 70 subsequently and the 3rd winning twice in the interim period, including off a mark of 78. After this Captain Cardington was stepped into Class 2 company for his handicap debut off a mark of 75 where he ran a very credible 3.25L beaten 7th in a race with very strong form. After being readily outpaced, he met a lot of traffic in running before staying on over the 7f trip and if reproducing that effort today he should take all the beating. As a 3 year old, Captain Cardington landed a 1m2f event at Lingfield two starts ago off only a 2lb lower mark and with the 2nd winning by 4L on his next start there is a lot to like about that effort. If discounting the last run, 16/1 looks a massive price and if the reversion to turf benefits Mick Channon's charge than I can see him going very close at a price that vastly overstates his chances.