Ffos Las result: Captain Teague reels in Paul Nicholls' runaway favourite Tutti Quanti

Captain Teague got one over on his old trainer at Ffos Las on Wednesday afternoon, reeling in Paul Nicholls’ odds-on favourite Tutti Quanti to land the Listed Adept GRP Cabinets Novices’ Chase. Formerly trained by Nicholls, the eight-year-old was having his first run for Dan Skelton, and won by a length-and-a-half at 7/2 under Harry Skelton.

For much of the 2m3f contest, it looked like a procession. Tutti Quanti, sent off at 8/11 under Sam Twiston-Davies, bowled along in front and was around 20 lengths clear by the fourth fence. However, he made a bad mistake down the back straight when 15 lengths to the good, and that cost him valuable momentum.

Harry Skelton, meanwhile, sat in rear early on and refused to panic as the leader went clear, steadily closing the gap until Captain Teague was five lengths down three out and almost upsides two out. Tutti Quanti was still two lengths in front at that point, but his exertions in front were beginning to tell, and Captain Teague was ridden to lead at the last before keeping on well. Emma Lavelle’s George’s Lad was a very distant third, a further 34 lengths back, while Tamarind Bay was pulled up before four out.

A former Grade 1 winner back on track

Captain Teague once looked a top-class prospect, finishing third in the Champion Bumper at 40/1 in 2023, as well as winning the Grade 2 Persian War Novices’ Hurdle at Chepstow that October. His greatest triumph was to follow in the Grade 1 Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury on 30 December that year, and he went off at just 6/1 for the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival but could finish only tenth.

He won on his chasing debut at Exeter in November 2024, but he was fourth in the Grade 2 John Francome Novices’ Chase at Newbury three weeks later and was then off the track for over a year. He failed to complete twice in three handicap hurdles for Nicholls earlier in 2026, so this was a timely reminder of his ability in the de la Hey colours. The Skelton team will now look to build on this over fences this winter.

Punchestown results: Chanceawetmorning capitalises on Bunting blunder

Over at Punchestown, Gordon Elliott’s Chanceawetmorning took the Grade 3 Matchbook Betting Exchange Novice Chase at 11/2 under Jack Kennedy, though he was handed a helping hand at the final fence. Kennedy tracked the leaders before moving into second three out, and he edged ahead before two out to hold a length’s advantage approaching the last.

Willie Mullins’ 8/13 favourite Bunting was still a length behind in second and clear of the rest when he made a bad mistake and unseated Paul Townend at the last. He was probably held at the time, and Chanceawetmorning stayed on well to beat Sir Allen by 13 lengths, with chasing debutant Vitorio Piel a remote third.

Gorgeous Tom justifies favouritism in style

There was no such drama in the Grade 3 Matchbook Betting Exchange Chase half an hour later, as Gorgeous Tom made light work of his three rivals. Henry de Bromhead’s eight-year-old was sent off the 4/6 favourite under Darragh O’Keeffe, and he came home 22 lengths clear of Elliott’s Croke Park, with Apple’s Of Bresil a further two lengths back in third.

It was a well-deserved success for a horse who had run with credit in some of the season’s biggest handicaps, most recently finishing third at 25/1 in the Galway Plate in July. He looks capable of making his mark in graded company this winter, and it capped a fine couple of days at the track for O’Keeffe and de Bromhead, who also won with Sea Of Dubka on Tuesday.