Huge outsider Cap'n to make racecourse debut in Long Distance Cup at Ascot

Cap'n is set to be thrown in at the deep end for his racecourse debut in the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot on Saturday.

Despite being a six-year-old, the son of Gamut has not yet set foot on a racecourse competitively, and yet he is set to do battle with the last two winners of the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in Order Of St George and Big Orange.

Cap'n joined Brendan Powell from County Offaly trainer George Webb earlier this month and will be ridden by his daughter, Jenny, in the two-mile Group Two.

Brendan Powell said: "The horse came to me from Ireland 10 days or so ago.

"The owner (Marisa Viegas) is a doctor of medicine and this is the first horse she's ever owned. I'd never spoken to her before last week.

"He's been entered up all the way through and the owner asked me whether I'd take him and run him on Champions Day.

"The owner is moving to Dubai shortly and is keen to have a horse out there, which hopefully I'll train for her.

"When you're a small yard like we are, you can't turn down new owners and if we didn't train this horse and run him on Saturday somebody else would."

The intended participation of a horse who can be backed at 500-1 is comparable to the controversial move made by connections of Diore Lia, who was an due to contest in the Investec Derby at Epsom in June, despite having finished unplaced in two maiden starts.

However, the 1000-1 shot was declared a non-runner on the morning of the premier Classic due to injury.

Lambourn-based Powell insists Cap'n will not upset the big guns.

He added: "He can gallop and he's a very sensible horse who won't be getting in anyone's way.

"I didn't realise the horse had never run until I looked up his name, but he's a lovely, big horse who has ability.

"If I ran him in the bumper at Worcester (on Tuesday) I wouldn't expect him to be far away."