Racing: Captain Ramius can call the shots at Ascot

Saturday 6 October 2012

LEADING trainer Kevin Ryan claims Captain Ramius is in tip-top shape as the six-year-old bids to supplement his Ayr Gold Cup success at Ascot today.

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Captain Ramius has to defy a 6lb penalty in the Betfred Challenge Cup but he is sure to be a warm order following his emphatic, two-and-a-half-length win in the six-furlong cavalry charge at Ayr two weeks ago.

He steps up a furlong now but should take that in his stride as he was successful over the course and distance in July, 2011.Redford completed the Ayr/Ascot prestigious handicap double two years ago for David Nicholls when there was just a week between the two races and Captain Ramius carries plenty of stable confidence."He's in great form. He's been very well since Ayr, he's got good form at Ascot, so we're very hopeful of a big run," said Ryan.Belgian Bill has also gone well at this track, running creditably twice in three days there at the Royal meeting. His trainer George Baker felt the four-year-old put up a tremendous performance last time when fourth to Hunter's Light in the Group 2 Anatolia Trophy in Turkey."He has proven form on the track, but I would be worried if the ground went bottomless," said Baker. "I know the straight track at Ascot takes a lot of rain and good to soft would be fine."The horse is in great form. He was a little unlucky in the Hunt Cup when he hit the front probably a bit too soon and he ran a big race in the Buckingham Palace two days later."He thrives on these big-field handicaps and does seem in very good order and his run in Turkey last time out was not far off a career best. I'm looking forward to it."Milton Bradley is hoping Regal Parade can turn the form on Captain Ramius, who beat him into second place at Ayr."He ran a good race. He is really well and came back from Scotland as bright as a button and he's been well ever since," said Bradley. "We are hoping for luck in running and a big race. We meet Captain Ramius on better terms and he got first run on us at Ayr. We were getting him back the last 100 yards, but he'd gone."Imperial Guest has finished third and seventh in the last two renewals of this race and his trainer George Margarson is expecting another good run. "I'm not too concerned about the ground for him. It never gets that bad there as it drains so well," said the Newmarket trainer. "He's got a decent draw and he handles the track. I think he's got a real chance."We've got form lines with everything and there doesn't seem to be anything unexposed in the race."* Jockey Christophe Soumillon is looking forward to partner Japanese superstar Orfevre in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp tomorrow afternoon.The Belgian has won just about every major prize going, including two Arc victories on Dalakhani (2003) and the brilliant Zarkava (2008).However, the rider faces a different pressure this time as Orfevre's legion of supporters from the Far East anticipate another victory from a horse who claimed the Triple Crown in his homeland.Soumillion said: "You need a real champion to win the Arc, who is efficient over a mile as well as over a mile and a half as you need speed and stamina, and he must be easy to handle."He is not a complicated horse. I have watched the races he has won. The Japanese fans would like to see a Japanese horse win the Arc. I hope I can deliver what all the Japanese fans expect.

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Racing: Captain Ramius can call the shots at Ascot

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