Jumps Racing Continues To Suit Capecover

Capecover has continued his successful transformation from flat racer to jumps horse by winning his third start by seven lengths at Sandown today.

The eight-year-old gelding has now won all three of his jumps races, after finishing a career as a Group 2 winning horse over the flat.

Trainer Patrick Payne says that he gets a lot of joy out of racing the hurdlers in his stable.

“I love training the jumpers they take a bit of time but it is really enjoyable for everyone involved,” Payne said.

“The rest of the staff all enjoy it as well and it’s a big thrill for us all.”

Capecover was consistent for the majority of today’s race, however, marginally fumbled over the last two hurdles.

“The jumps are like a red rag to a bull for him, he sees them and gets really aggressive and just wants to attack them, so he just needs to settle down a little bit,” Payne said.

“I thought he jumped a majority of them really well on the bridle but the last couple he was a bit too aggressive so it’s something I will just have to work on.”

Jockey Steven Pateman was the one to ride Capecover to his latest win.

“It’s scary to think what he is going to be like when I have a chance to actually let him go,” Pateman said.

“I was just trying to settle him for as long as I could and he saw the hurdles in the back straight and ran off on me; but he is very good.”

Pateman is thrilled to have the opportunity to ride horses for Payne, who has currently trained nine jumps winners in a row.

“It is much more difficult to train a horse than to ride it and I am just in a privileged position to be able to ride them for Patrick,” Pateman said.

“Nine wins in a row has to be some sort of record and it’s quite incredible really.”

Capecover will have one more run before being aimed at the Grand National Hurdle at Sandown in August.

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