Owner JP McManus enjoyed a notable big race across the card double as Capodanno followed up Jeriko Du Reponet’s success in the Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle at Doncaster.
Just ten minutes after Jeriko Du Reponet battled on grimly to land the Grade 2 Supreme Novices' Trial at Doncaster for trainer Nicky Henderson, powerhouse owner JP McManus enjoyed another success at the same level courtesy of the well-backed Capodanno.
Capodanno, who had been as big as 8/1 earlier in the morning, was ridden with plenty of restraint under Paul Townend as The Real Whacker ensured there would be no hiding place in the three-mile one-and-a-half-furlong contest.
Datsalrightgino parted company with rider Gavin Sheehan early in proceedings and things looked to be wide open, with five staying chasers seemingly in with a chance turning for home.
Both top jockeys Harry Cobden and Paul Townend looked confident on their respective mounts coming down the hill, but it would be the latter's horse, Capodanno, who would quicken up best rounding the second last to lead at the final flight.
Paul Townend asked his mount up at the last and the JP McManus-owned gelding would certainly deliver, producing a spectacular leap to help seal the deal. The Real Whacker, who looked like being swallowed up rounding the final bend, rallied strongly to regain the second spot from Paul Nicholls' novice chaser Stay Away Fay. Ahoy Senor finished back in fourth after Royal Pagaille suffered a fall at the final flight.
The race was unfortunately marred by the loss of Coral Gold Cup winner Datsalrightgino, who sustained a fatal injury when falling early on.
"It was very straightforward and a small field. I was going to ride my horse to suit him, and it worked out," said Townend.
"He promised a performance like that. He showed as a novice he was going to be a force to be reckoned with, but I don't think we got the clearest of runs with him, but they seem to be able to train him now and keep going with him and I thought it was a good performance.
"He had been doing everything well (at home) and he was very close to Gerri Colombe the last day and if Gerri Colombe would have been here, then he would have been very short (in the betting).
"He was probably a bit overlooked but when people studied the race, they noticed that and he went off a lot shorter than he was in the middle of the week. He had to back up that Leopardstown run and he did today.
"I would probably have liked to have jumped the last, it was a long run without it, but it turned out fine. It's a special place to come and it's always lovely to ride a winner here on a big day."
"I was lucky to get the leg-up on him today and I'm not usually in these colours, but with Mark (Walsh) going to Doncaster and jockeys going everywhere and Lossiemouth coming here, it all fell right. "
Elsewhere at Doncaster, Jeriko Du Reponet maintained his unbeaten record in the SBK Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle after a hard-fought one-and-a-half length victory over Sam Thomas' Lump Sum.
Paddy Power were seemingly not impressed with the workmanlike success and pushed the winner out to 8-1 from 5s for the Supreme.
Walsh, who was partnering the Henderson youngster for the first time, said: "We went no gallop early, which didn't suit, and he didn't even jump great early considering we were going so slow.
"When we picked up going into the straight, he was electric over the last three (hurdles). Early on he was a bit sloppy, but I think that was because he thought he was just going round for a school.
"The race wasn't run to suit, we went too slow, and it turned into a sprint, that was the reading I got.
"In his other races he was just cantering around, but he really had to fight today, and he put his head down when I wanted him.
"He's a lovely horse, he can only beat what's in front of him and he showed a good attitude.
"He's only five and I think he'll keep improving."
