Hox wins as sole opponent comes to grief Dublin trainer Patrick Griffin enjoyed a successful raid on Ayr when Captain Hox came home in splendid isolation in the Dawn Homes Future Developments Novices' Chase. What was a match with just two runners swiftly became a schooling session when the odds-on Fairytale Theatre from the Dan Skelton yard fell at the very first fence, leaving Brian Hughes and Captain Hox to negotiate the near two miles on their own. Captain Hox could have been forgiven for taking his mind off the job but never looked like doing so. James Griffin, assistant trainer to his father, said of the 2-1 winner: "The saving grace is because we are a small yard he is used to schooling on his own, that's what he thought he was doing. "We'd been waiting for better ground and thought we'd run round and finish second or third behind one of the highly-rated horses and go to Carlisle on the 20th. "But we've picked up over £6,000 for a schooling session. Willie Mullins would have to pay that at Leopardstown yesterday and we've got it for free!"
