Blind faith in Dan Skelton allowed punters at Stratford's evening fixture, the second meeting in 2 days, to send each of 6 Skelton- trained horses off favourite, hoping a current 50% strike rate would see them through.

The much-vaunted 6-timer fell at the first however, as not every other owner, trainer and rider has heard of the Alcester maestro's invincibility. The admirable Captain Cool, a winner here in mid-May and not out of the first two in 7 outings since March, won again to put the 2/7 favourite Skelton Tellherthename in the shade in a 2m novices handicap chase.

Captain Cool is doing his best to earn his keep, but in this class of race, that's quite an achievement in itself. The winner picked up £7,921.50 for this Class 3 race, and three wins and a second place over the larger obstacles have earned his co-owners a little under £24,500, notwithstanding the pleasure he's given them. Stratford wouldn't be alone in considering the rewards for lower class racing could benefit from an increase at the expense of some of our better endowed races.

Trainer of Captain Cool, Jennie Candlish, is enjoying an excellent summer to date, in which her 6 year old gelding has featured prominently. 12 winners to date from 50 runners give her a 24% strike rate, right up with the leaders of her profession, and Luke Scott takes the majority of her jumps rides. On the basis of this performance, Captain Cool is more than capable of winning again.

Normal service was resumed 30mns later, as juvenile Listed winner at Chantilly, Square d'Alboni, made short work of his maiden status at the third time of asking since transferring from Ralph Beckett to Team Skelton, not extending himself to win by 7l from Penzance, one of several runners from Shark Hanlon.

But the remainder of the evening proved a frustration for the champion trainer, a man in a hurry with a record to beat. Tyson kept on gamely without having the speed to beat lion Of the Desert from Grace Harris's yard in Devon, a 2 1/2l winner of the 2m6f Solidcam UK Handicap Hurdle; Katzoff was pulled up in the 2m 2f equivalent; Glenmalure Flyer was outclassed by Irish raider Lakefield Flyer in the handicap chase, whilst David Pipe fielded one too good in the Bumper.

Which all goes to prove that our equine athletes do not understand the power of statistics! The rarity of winning more than a couple of races on any one card is because it's hard to do, irrespective of your firepower.

Champion rider Sean Bowen is having to play second fiddle to Harry Skelton presently, and if Team Skelton succeeds in its pursuit of the Pipe record, he will have to work doubly hard to wear down the Skelton lead. But there's a reason Bowen is champion; his work ethic is very solid, leaving aside his value in the plate.

But he will have been glad not to have to overly exert himself on the Mickey Hammond - trained Stellarmasterpiece, a comfortable 7 1/2l winner over fellow Yorkshire raider Brooklyn Lullaby, in the Davisons Law Moving You Forward Handicap Hurdle, a low grade 2m 2f hurdle in which he was perhaps a little tapped for toe at halfway, but came through to good effect.

The Hanlon family enjoys a good foray over to the mainland, and trainer Shark has been known to tilt at windmills very successfully as the likes of Hewick will attest.

There were no windmills in sight however during the 2 1/4l victory of Lakefield Flyer over Delpotro in the 2m 3f Laura Horsfall Handicap Chase. Always in the first two, Hanlon jnr sent him on two out, led at the last and always had something in hand.

Claimer Ryan Corcoran set a slow pace in the concluding bumper to ensure his speed on Irish-bred Thetype Istitle was sufficient to carry him home in front of the Skeltons' Redbarn.