I agree w/ Cap & Debris. My first 1/4 scale Hi-Porformance plane was a Cap. Probably one of the most un-stable Hi-Po. planes.
From experience I can tell you that going to these type planes for the first time does take pretty good pilot skills but is also a 100% mental thing. I had a phobia for the snap the Cap is famous for. To over come this sort of stuff first make sure your surfaces are as close to nutral as possible so on the first flight you dont spend alot of time trimming out the plane. Once you have it trimmed spend the whole flight learning the stall tendencies at low speeds. Get the model up high and slow it down. See what it does w/ no elevator applied then do the same thing while applying elevator. This will help you undestand what and "HOW MUCH" you can get away with. Bring it over the runway at a safe altitude slow as if you were landing to see how it slows down and about where it would touch down. Most importantly the type aircraft do not need alot of control throw to do basic flight or even some basic aerobatics. Once you have your low rates set (recomend the manufactures specs) set your hi rates about 10 to 15% BELOW the low rates. That way if your throws are to much on low once you get in the air you can "flip the switch". I personally would not recomend any expo in the plane till you know what what it needs. Expo can allow to much over correction in bad situations especially on first flights.
The main thing is to know the charecteristics of the plane. Once you KNOW what it will do you will not be AFRAID of what it MIGHT DO!
MY to cents worth & Good luck!

Steve