Showing posts with label McCain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label McCain. Show all posts
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Donald McCain: The verdict on my Uttoxeter pair
"There’s no denying he’s (Tick Tocker) been disappointing – I had high hopes for him at the start of the season and he hasn’t delivered but we’ve gone back to basics with him and the better ground should be in his favour here..."
Donald has a couple of novice hurdlers in action at Uttoxeter on Saturday.
13.40 Uttoxeter
Tick Tocker
There's no denying he's been disappointing - I had high hopes for him at the start of the season and he hasn't delivered but we've gone back to basics with him and the better ground should be in his favour here. If he can return to the form he showed when he was second at Sedgefield on his hurdling debut then he'd have to have an obvious chance and hopefully he will see his race out a bit better back on this sounder surface. Paul O'Brien takes off a handy 8lb as well.
14.10 Uttoxeter
Bit Of A Jig
He's been waiting for some better ground and he seems very well in himself at home. This doesn't look a bad race but he is still open to a bit of improvement and if the extra distance brings about some progress - which I am hopeful it might - then he ought to be there or thereabouts. His latest Market Rasen run looks solid enough and he would have to have an each-way shout.
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Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Donald McCain: Super Duty will run in Thursday's Kim Muir
"It’s a race we’ve won twice before and as long as the rain stays away, he (Super Duty) looks to be going there with plenty in his favour....."
Donald can confirm that Super Duty will sidestep Wednesday's RSA Chase and line up in the Kim Muir on Thursday afternoon.
After much discussion with the owners, I can confirm that Super Duty will be heading for the Kim Muir on Thursday rather than Wednesday's RSA Chase at Cheltenham.
Although the RSA looks to have been weakened with the defection of Dynaste, it's going to take some getting on the likely ground and with the forecast as it is, it might have dried out a little come the last race on Thursday.
We've got a top amateur booked and the betting suggests that he's got an obvious chance - it's always better to be going into meetings like this with 5-1 shots rather than 50-1!
It's a race we've won twice before and as long as the rain stays away, he looks to be going there with plenty in his favour.
There are no comments on this article.
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Donald McCain: Overturn the star attraction at Musselburgh
"This looks the ideal race for him (Overturn) to complete his Cheltenham preparations in – given the weather we’ve had, the chance to run him on decent ground is a real bonus and fingers crossed he’ll maintain his unbeaten record over fences...."
Donald has a busy afternoon at Musselburgh with Overturn having his last run before heading for the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Musselburgh
13.00 2m Novice Chase - Overturn
This looks the ideal race for him to complete his Cheltenham preparations in - given the weather we've had, the chance to run him on decent ground is a real bonus and fingers crossed he'll maintain his unbeaten record over fences. Tetlami is a useful performer but he wasn't in our league over hurdles and this does look a perfect opportunity for us.
13.30 3m Novice Hurdle - Witness In Court
This looks a warm race but he's rated 132 and he either steps up in class or runs in a competitive handicap. I think he might well improve for this longer trip and although he needs to, he's in grand form at home. As I say, this does have some good novices in it but we go there with a chance and it should give us a much better idea as to where we stand with him going forwards.
14.00 2m4f Novice Chase - Desert Cry
To me, he's been shaping as though he might get a bit further now and although it's a good race, he must have a solid chance. He won his last two in good style and although this is a step up in class, he was capable of smart form over hurdles on his day. We've probably got Tap Night to beat but there wouldn't have been a lot between them over hurdles and if he does find the longer trip suiting, he's got to go close.
15.00 2m Handicap Chase - Swift Arrow
He seems to have taken well to this track and has been running well all winter. He's gone up in the weights and realistically I would think he would find a couple too strong but it's a decent prize for a horse like him to be going for and the conditions won't be a problem.
16.00 2m4f Hunter Chase - Cloudy Lane
The trip is probably just on the sharp side for him round here but we need to get a run into him and this probably isn't a particularly strong race. He showed he wasn't a back number at Aintree last season and although he's 13 now, he still retains plenty of enthusiasm and ability.
16.30 2m4f Handicap Hurdle - Smadynium
I am not sure how well handicapped he is but he's going the right way and I would think that the longer trip would be in his favour. He won well on his only previous visit here and conditions should suit. He's open to more improvement than some of these and although 126 isn't a gift of an opening mark, the trip might prove the key to him.
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Donald McCain: Super Duty out to prove stamina at Wetherby
"I've always thought he (Super Duty) would get 3m well and this looked the right place to come with a view to deciding his target at the Cheltenham Festival....."
Donald is expecting a big run from Super Duty as he heads to Wetherby for the Towton Novices' Chase...
14.05 Ffos Las - Hollow Tree
He's got his share of weight as a result of his smart form last year and by running in a race like this, he does at least have to avoid lugging top weight around. It's going to be very testing ground which he has already proved he likes and although I think he will stay 3m in time, the drop back in trip certainly won't be a problem. It's obviously very competitive but it's what you expect in a £50k handicap - hopefully his proven ability in the mud will see him go well.
14.40 Ffos Las - Red Rocco
This obviously represents a step up in class for him but he's going the right way and the thorough test of stamina should suit him. Having just ten stone on his back will be in his favour in a race like this and although he needs to improve, he is less exposed than his rivals. Again, it's a valuable prize and if he can get into a nice rhythm in the early stages, he is capable of going well.
15.20 Wetherby - Super Duty
I've always thought he would get 3m well and this looked the right place to come with a view to deciding his target at the Cheltenham Festival. In an ideal world, he'd be having his first run at the trip on better ground than this but we need to crack on with him and he has proven he handles the mud - I was really pleased with him at Cheltenham last time. It looks competitive enough but he's still open to improvement over fences and looks to have a strong chance.
15.55 Wetherby - Dunowen Point
I didn't really have him down as a 2 ½ miler but he seemed to stay well enough when he won over hurdles at Sedgefield on Boxing Day and he was strong at the finish here last time. This probably isn't as competitive as it could be for the money on offer and if he does stay, he's got to have a chance - he's had his problems but he hasn't got that many miles on the clock.
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Sunday, April 1, 2012
Grand National: McCain love affair with Aintree lives on
Features 
/ Timeform / 01 April 2012 / Leave a Comment 
Can Ballabriggs defend his title?
""It goes without saying that, if there is one race that we would always choose to win, it would be the Grand National."
The McCain family have long held a certain affiliation with Aintree and the victory of Ballabriggs in the 2011 renewal of the Grand National marked their fifth win in the contest...
Donald McCain had not yet turned three years old when Red Rum mowed down Crisp in the dying strides of the 1973 Grand National to record the first of four victories in the World's most famous steeplechase for the late Ginger McCain, but that victory, and what was to occur across the course of the next four years, ensured the McCain family entered Grand National folklore.
Red Rum would go on to land another Grand National victory the following year, before finishing second in 1975 and 1976, and then becoming the only horse in the history of the race to win three times when completing the hat-trick in 1977.
Since then, no horse has managed to complete the double, let alone the treble, with Willie Mullins' Gold Cup runner-up Hedgehunter coming closest of those to have tried; falling when in the lead at the final fence in 2004, before posting a victory 12 months later, and then finishing in second place behind Numbersixvalverde in 2006.
Coincidentally it was the 2004 Grand National where Hedgehunter's final fence departure paved the way for Ginger McCain to claim his fourth and final Grand National success as Amberleigh House finished from a mile back to outstay Clan Royal and Lord Atterbury in the final furlong.
That victory acted as a catalyst for the McCain stable, as the yard began to grow in strength, and Donald took over the reins from his father in 2006. Idle Talk became the trainer's first National runner when failing to complete the course the following year, before finishing 14th and 12th in 2008 and 2009 respectively.
Unlike his father, Donald's priorities have not always been races over the National fences, with the likes of Cloudy Lane and Whiteoak providing the young trainer with his first taste of success at the Cheltenham Festival within the first couple of years of him taking out his license.
Cloudy Lane also went on to represent McCain three times in the National, sent off the join-favourite and finishing sixth in 2008, before failing to complete in 2009, and finally finishing eighth in 2010.
At around the same time the stable also began to attract new owners such as Tim Leslie, and his association with the yard has delivered exceptional results in recent seasons, with the likes of Peddlers Crossand Overturn the flag bearers. The former was the winner of big prizes at both the Cheltenahm and Aintree Festivals in 2010, whilst the latter has demonstrated an admirable and consistent attitude for the yard, picking up various prizes over hurdles as well as the 2011 renewal of the Chester Cup on the Flat.
Seven years after his father's final Aintree victory, Donald managed to ensure there was another McCain on the Grand National roll of honour, completing his finest training performance to date by saddling Ballabriggs to victory in the 2011 renewal. Ballbriggs gave owner Trevor Hemmings his second National in six years with Hedgehunter having scored in 2005.
The Grand National had long been the plan for Ballabriggs who was touted as a possible Aintree candidate when first joining the yard, with the ten-year-old gelding recording a two-and-a-quarter length victory from Oscar Time, the runner-up ridden by Gold Cup winning-amateur Sam Waley-Cohen.
"You never expect to win a Grand National but we expected Ballabriggs to run very well and we always thought that he would take to the place," said McCain.
"There was a little question mark over him getting the trip and you never know how they are going to cope with Aintree until they run there. It was smashing when it came off because we had been aiming him there for a long time.
"It goes without saying that, if there is one race that we would always choose to win, it would be the Grand National.
"It was smashing to do it for Mr Hemmings with a horse who we had thought might be an Aintree horse for so many years because he has put a lot of faith in us.
"From the moment that Ballabriggs came into the yard, we always hoped that he would be an Aintree horse one day - it was literally that long in the planning. The way he did everything meant that we always had the Grand National in the back of the mind and that's what made winning it all the more special."
The target for Ballabriggs and Donald McCain this season has always been to recapture the same prize, a feat that would mean all the more after Ginger McCain's death in September of last year.
Ballabriggs has had just the one outing this season, finishing fourth in his preparation run over an inadequate two miles and six furlongs at Kelso where he shaped as if in great need of the outing. Ballabriggs looks likely to carry 11-09 (top weight of 11-10 if Synchronised doesn't run) on his defence mission, with the recent statistics seemingly against horses carrying such weights.
Aintree is a unique course that only certain horses take to. Red Rum did so spectacularly and it's not difficult to envisage Ballabriggs going very close to retaining his title in 2012.
........................
Read all the latest Grand National news, tips and features on betting.betfair.
Timeform's Adam Brookes discusses the obstacles that stand in the way of the 40 runners and riders who'll line up for the 2012 Aintree Grand National on April 14......
Timeform's Adam Brookes delves into the history books and reports his findings on the world's most famous steeplechase, the Grand National at Aintree......
Fresh from compiling a similar piece for the Cheltenham Festival, Timeform's Adam Brookes provides his A to Z for one of his favourite races in the whole calendar, the Aintree Grand National......
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Donald McCain: Ballabriggs bang on course for Aintree
Donald McCain / Donald McCain / 30 March 2012 / Leave a Comment 
Ballabriggs is on course to defend his Grand National crown.
"as well as Overturn, I would think that the likes of Absinthe, Sud Pacifique, Constant Contact and Bourne will all end up running on the Flat at some stage....."
Another steady week for the McCain team as attentions turn to Aintree......and, whisper it, the Flat season.
There's a bit of a lull between Cheltenham and Aintree and we have a quiet weekend lined up, albeit there are a couple who look to have decent chances.
Things have carried on nicely this week with a few more winners and the horses seem to be holding their form very well, despite some of them having been kept very busy.
We're up to 137 winners for the year now which is certainly beyond any expectations I had at the start of the season.
We look to have a strong team building up for Aintree, even with Cinders And Ashes now missing the meeting, and it's a track at which I am obviously very keen to do well at.
Ballabriggs was the star of the show last year and things are ticking over nicely with him at home. I had been keen to give him another racecourse gallop between Kelso and the National but, with the weather as it has been, there haven't really been any suitable opportunities.
He's doing plenty of work at home though and I couldn't be happier with him in the build up - we'll just keep chipping away and hopefully we will get him there in the same form as last year.
I was asked the other day if I was likely to be keeping many going on the Flat through the summer. It's not something I have tended to do in the past - I know Overturn has been a star - but we have quite a few 85+ rated Flat horses and, reluctantly, I might have to have more of a look this time round!
There will be a few of them kept on the go - as well as Overturn, I would think that the likes of Absinthe, Sud Pacifique, Constant Contact and Bourne will all end up running on the Flat at some stage.
They won't be running for the sake of running, but if the right race pops up at the big meetings, they will be there to take their chance.
Cheltenham Festival winner Cinders And Ashes will bypass Aintree....
Donald has one of his leading juvenile hurdlers in action at Hexham on Sunday....
Donald has a strong team in action at his local track on Saturday....
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Donald McCain: Reflections on a cracking week at Cheltenham
Donald McCain / Donald McCain / 23 March 2012 / Leave a Comment 
Cinders And Ashes got Cheltenham week off to the best possible start.
"Cinders [And Ashes] didn’t have the smoothest trip and if he hadn’t knocked the last out of the ground, he would have won by six lengths!
After a fantastic four days at Cheltenham with two winners and a Champion Hurdle second, Donald reflects on a week that makes all the hard work worthwhile...
It's been back to normality after the chaos of Cheltenham but it was a cracking week for the stable with Cinders And Ashes and Son of Flicka winning and Overturn running a blinder in the Champion Hurdle.
It was particularly pleasing to see Cinders And Ashes win like he did - I thought he would appreciate the better ground and he delivered the sort of performance I have always maintained he had in him.
I don't think he has necessarily been given the credit he deserved - I saw in a couple of places that Darlan was described as an unlucky loser, which I can't have. Cinders didn't have the smoothest trip and if he hadn't knocked the last out of the ground, he would have won by six lengths!
Cinders And Ashes has come out of the race fine and, at this stage, the plan is to head to Aintree with him. He has been on the go for a while though and if at any stage he shows me that he has had enough, he will be sent off on a summer holiday.
Of the others to run at Cheltenham, they all came back in good order with the exception of Reindeer Dippin - he had to have a couple of stitches in his leg - and most of them are likely to be kept on the go.
The two big disappointments of the week were Peddlers Cross and Weird Al and I have already gone on record as saying that Peddlers will be back over hurdles next season.
His work in the build up to the meeting had been great - he left Overturn behind him in one of his final gallops - but he just doesn't seem to jump with the enthusiasm that you need to at that level.
Weird Al bled in the Gold Cup which was both disappointing and frustrating. He has burst blood vessels in the past and whether he finds that intense competition just a bit too much, I am not sure.
Given the way the race panned out, it's a real pity as you would have to think he would have gone very close if he had run to his best.
Our Mick was another to run a cracker and with a bit more luck, he might have gone even closer - that said, I would have been happy with two winners and two placed horses at the start of the week.
Ebanour winning at Sedgefield on Friday took us to 131 for the season and it's a credit to everyone at Bankhouse - everyone chips in, I've got some great staff and weeks like Cheltenham make it all worthwhile.
After a frenetic week at Cheltenham, it's a quieter Saturday for the McCain team but there are still some live chances at Newcastle....
Donald has a few fancied runners in action at Carlisle on Sunday....
It's been a fine week for Donald already but he has some leading contenders on the final day of the 2012 Cheltenham Festival....
Friday, March 2, 2012
Timeform Radio Racing Tips: McCain holds the Ludlow keys
Timeform Radio Tip / David Cleary / 01 March 2012 / Leave a Comment 
/ David Cleary / 01 March 2012 / Leave a Comment Will McCain chip in with a couple of winners today?
"Bunclody hasn't had many chances since joining this yard and could well take some catching if positively ridden over these easy fences."
David Cleary is focusing on a pair of Donald McCain's horses at Ludlow where the in-form trainer holds three entries
Ludlow and Taunton provide the action over jumps this afternoon, two sharp right-handed tracks where the ground is likely to be a fair bit livelier than many of the runners have been encountering of late.
That doesn't make for straightforward punting opportunities, and bets that make much appeal are again in rather short supply. The 16:30 at Ludlow is an exception.
Seven go to post and the 'obvious' one in the field is Themilanhorse. He's had just two starts over hurdles, has obvious potential to improve and his mark looks fair. His win came on good ground, so conditions are likely to be no problem. He'll run well but is priced accordingly, particularly as most against him have negatives to their name.
One that might be worth backing against him, however, is An Capall Mor. He has just one worthwhile run from four starts over hurdles, but the other three were on very testing ground. His one piece of form suggests he's well treated switched to handicaps, and his trainer Donald McCain is in tremendous form. It's worth backing An Capall Mor, perhaps also saving on Themilanhorse.
McCain might also have the answer to the novice chase at 15:00 in Bunclody. None of the likely principals has a particularly positive profile but Bunclody hasn't had many chances since joining this yard and could well take some catching if positively ridden over these easy fences, two of his main rivals held up usually and prone to mistakes.
Recommended Bets
Back An Capall Mor @ [8.0] in the 16.30 at Ludlow
Back Bunclody @ [4.0] in the 15.00 at Ludlow
Terry Norman picks a pair to follow in Wales today where Philip Hobbs' horses will play a pivotal role...
David Cleary makes the case for a couple of promising runners at decent odds on Tuesday afternoon......
Paul Smith supplies two bets for Monday afternoon and explains how you can get your week off to a sweet start......
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Donald McCain: Delighted with Our Mick's run at Newbury
Donald McCain / Donald McCain / 17 February 2012 / Leave a Comment Ballabriggs is due to have a racecourse gallop at Haydock on Saturday.
"I think today proved that he [Our Mick] was crying out for a step up to 3m and he is going to be one to follow when he gets his chance over further....."
Donald didn't hit the target at Newbury on Friday but he was thrilled with Our Mick's third in the Grade 1 novice chase.
I didn't make it to Newbury this afternoon but I enjoyed watching it at home and I was pleased with the way that both Desert Cry and Our Mick ran in their respective races.
I am convinced Desert Cry has one of these big handicap hurdles in him but every time I run him in a big field, they end up going no gallop. That doesn't suit him at all and although he briefly threatened to make a move turning into the straight, the others were quickening ahead of him as well.
He will get things run to suit him one day and he will show what he can do then.
I was delighted with Our Mick upped to Grade 1 company and he continues to look more professional with each run. I think today proved that he was crying out for a step up to 3m and he is going to be one to follow when he gets his chance over further.
Obviously the win of Sprinter Sacre was watched with interest here and you have to say he was mightily impressive. He did beat handicappers though - albeit very good handicappers - and he was a long odds-on favourite - that was how he was supposed to win, wasn't it?!
In all seriousness, he is clearly a very talented novice but, whatever was said in the aftermath, it will be a different test in the Arkle and we are heading to Cheltenham with a horse who has been there and done it all before.
Peddlers Cross continues his rehabilitation and is in grand form again at home - we can just get on quietly with him while all the attention is now focussed on Nicky Henderson!
We've got some nice young horses in action over the weekend, particularly at Haydock, but it's also a big day for Ballabriggs who is due to have a gallop after racing. Assuming everything goes to plan, it's then on to Kelso early next month.
The Grand National weights came out in the week and there were plenty of people who were keen to point out that Weird Al was 5lb clear top-rated with Timeform. Ballabriggs has been there and done it all before though - how does that experience offset a few pounds here and there?
With the Grand National weights announced this morning, read Donald's thoughts on his three entrants here....
'Bumpers for jumpers' is the theme at Southwell on Sunday and Donald has runners in five of the races on the card....
Donald has a strong team assembled for Musselburgh's rescheduled fixture on Saturday....
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Donald McCain: The verdict on my Sunday runners
Donald McCain / Donald McCain / 11 February 2012 / Leave a Comment 
'Bumpers for jumpers' is the order of the day at Southwell on Sunday.
"He’s [Smadynium] a lovely little horse and he probably should have won on his debut when he was only worn down in the closing stages....."
'Bumpers for jumpers' is the theme at Southwell on Sunday and Donald has runners in five of the races on the card.
Smadynium
He's a lovely little horse and he probably should have won on his debut when he was only worn down in the closing stages. That form looks a bit better with the winner going in again since and he is well up to winning a race like this. Obviously it's a bit of a guess with regards to the surface and the Twiston-Davies horse [Rossoneri] looks to be okay, but he would have to go close if he handles the fibresand.
Golden Call
As with most of mine running here, the surface is an unknown and I wouldn't know quite what to expect from him here. He wasn't right at Catterick last time and you can put a line through that, and the fact he has won a bumper in the past has to be a positive. He isn't the easiest to deal with at home so he might as well be out on the racecourse and hopefully he can pick up some money in this small field.
Smart Act
He's a lovely horse who has been ready to go for a while and I thought I might as well give him a run here with a view to another run over hurdles next week. He's more of a long-term prospect but the more he runs, the more experience he will gain. This probably isn't a bad race but it has cut up enough to make the run worthwhile.
Tornado Bob
He won a bumper when he was trained in Ireland and he isn't short of speed so hopefully he will handle the surface. He hasn't really fired over fences this season but he comes here ahead of returning to hurdling in the short term.
Record Breaker
This should be his cup of tea as he has spent most of his life running in decent Flat races. There might be a couple of them that are too strong for him in this field but it will keep him ticking over and there's no obvious reason why he wouldn't give a good account of himself.
Donald has a strong team assembled for Musselburgh's rescheduled fixture on Saturday....
A quiet weekend for the Bankhouse team but Donald tells us that the weather isn't wreaking havoc with the schedule just yet....
Donald is due to have four runners at Musselburgh's competitive card on Sunday....
Friday, January 27, 2012
Donald McCain: 101 and counting....
Donald McCain / Donald McCain / 27 January 2012 / Leave a Comment 
Peddlers Cross looks set to go straight to Cheltenham for the Arkle Trophy
"There only seemed to be two suitable races that fitted in the timescale available to us and neither would be ideal. I don’t think Warwick would suit him especially well and the other option at Kelso might mean having to run on ground that would be more demanding than I would want so close to the Festival......"
Donald reached a personal best when recording his 101st winner of the campaign in the week and there is plenty of cause for optimism in the coming months.
It was great to get to the century of winners up at Haydock last weekend on a cracking day for the team and Chester Lad's win at Newcastle on Thursday took us to our best ever total.
There have been a couple of Grade 1 winners amongst them which always helps - it makes you realise you are doing something right - but the horses have been running well all winter and breaking our personal best has to go down as the highlight of the season, especially as we are still in January.
It's all about building on that going forward but we have lots of very nice young horses here now and the quality continues to rise. As I said, the wins of Overturn and Hollow Tree were significant but increasing the strength in depth is the key as we go on.
I couldn't be happier with the way things have gone so far though and long may it continue.
Looking ahead to the remainder of the season, it looks like we will have our strongest team ever for the Cheltenham Festival. There's still plenty of time so it is hard to have too many plans set in stone but, touch wood, we will be heading south with plenty of live chances.
Obviously there has been plenty said about Peddlers Cross after Kempton but I can give you the latest on him and it all seems to be very positive.
He seems very happy in himself and he is back on the road and working very nicely. Having weighed up the options, I would think it is highly likely that he will now go straight to the Arkle.
There only seemed to be two suitable races that fitted in the timescale available to us and neither would be ideal. I don't think Warwick would suit him especially well and the other option at Kelso might mean having to run on ground that would be more demanding than I would want so close to the Festival.
He's got enough experience over fences as far as I am concerned and the main thing now is to have him absolutely spot on for the day that matters.
Four runners for Donald on Sunday, including a couple of smart Flat racers making their way over hurdles....
Donald has a strong team assembled for Haydock on Saturday, subject to the meeting passing a morning inspection, with Cheltenham hopeful Cinders And Ashes heading the raiding party....
A busy day for the McCain team on Sunday with a lorryload heading north of the border to Kelso....
Monday, January 23, 2012
Donald McCain: The verdict on my Sunday runners
Donald McCain / Donald McCain / 22 January 2012 / Leave a Comment 
Record Breaker, a smart Flat horse, faces a very different test at Towcester on Sunday.
"The ground was very testing and he didn’t seem to get home in it - he was much better over his hurdles than he was on his debut though and hopefully the better ground here will help.........."
Four runners for Donald on Sunday, including a couple of smart Flat racers making their way over hurdles.
Mountain Hiker
He was beaten a long way in the end at Chepstow last time but I didn't think he ran that badly. The ground was very testing and he didn't seem to get home in it - he was much better over his hurdles than he was on his debut though and hopefully the better ground here will help. He is clearly a bit quirky but there is an engine there if he can get it all together.
Great Boss
I actually thought he didn't do a lot wrong behind Cinders And Ashes at Haydock last time and there is something to work with there. He's a big horse who isn't really going to come into his own until he is stepped up in trip but this is a very stiff 2m and he is going the right way.
Record Breaker
He's been around for a while on the Flat but he won't have ever experienced anything like Towcester! Joking aside, I was pleased with his run at Bangor first time and he is only going to get better over hurdles with experience. He looked like a stiffer test would suit him there and it doesn't get much stiffer than this.
Red Rocco
He's had a break since a couple of quick runs and I thought he ran very well at Aintree last time. He looked like he was ready for the step up in trip on that occasion and although this isn't a bad race, I would think he ought to go well trying 3m for the first time.
Donald has a strong team assembled for Haydock on Saturday, subject to the meeting passing a morning inspection, with Cheltenham hopeful Cinders And Ashes heading the raiding party....
A busy day for the McCain team on Sunday with a lorryload heading north of the border to Kelso....
Donald has runners all around the country on Saturday, including some live chances at Wetherby....
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Donald McCain: Fantastic four at Haydock
News / Timeform / 21 January 2012 / Leave a Comment 
Donald McCain was in excellent form at Haydock.
"Another one for in-running punters was Reindeer Dippin who, after starting at [5.8], hit a high of [17.5]..."
Betting.Betfair columnist Donald McCain fired in a quartet of winners at Haydock on Saturday...
Readers of McCain's Saturday preview on betting.betfair.com were in for a real treat, as four of the six runners that he sent out at Haydock came back victorious.
Cinders and Ashes, currently trading at [12.0] for the Supreme Novices at Cheltenham (Timeform Chief Correspondent Jamie Lynch had previously tipped Cinder and Ashes in his Antepost Preview), got the day off to a winning start when running out a comfortable winner, returning at a Betfair SP of [1.7].
Next to hit the target was Our Mick, returning at a Betfair SP of [2.66] although in-running punters could have taken the [9.0] that was available during the race. The improving Our Mick was notching a hat-trick, having also won at Kempton and Catterick, and his 13 length margin of success demonstrates how easy today was.
Another one for in-running punters was Reindeer Dippin who, after starting at [5.8], hit a high of [17.5] before making steady headway to take the lead, eventually being eased close home but still beating Stow by six lengths.
The day was rounded off by Real Milan, highlighted as McCain's best chance of the day, and he again was not hard pushed to gain his own hat-trick by seven lengths, with his two previous wins coming at Hereford and Uttoxeter.
McCain will be hoping to continue this excellent run of form on Sunday, where he saddles three at Towcester and one at Market Rasen. Click here to read Donald's verdict on his Sunday runners.
Somersby (BSP of [5.8]) finally gained the big victory his consistent efforts deserved when wearing down Finian's Rainbow in the 25th Anniversary of the VC Chase at Ascot......
Spirit Son's participation in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival is in serious doubt after suffering another setback......
Paul Nolan's Noble Prince continues his Cheltenham Festival preparations in the Normans Grove Chase at Fairyhouse on Sunday......
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Donald McCain: Overturn the 'ox' the star once more
Donald McCain / Donald McCain / 02 December 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Overturn added another big-race win to his CV in the Fighting Fifth last weekend.
"He must have the constitution of an ox to keep coming back for more and he has come out of the race remarkably well...."
Donald enjoyed a fantastic month in November with Overturn's two big-race wins in successive weeks the highlight.
Last weekend was a big one for the stable and I was delighted with the way things panned out.
Overturn was the star of the show, winning the Fighting Fifth Hurdle in tenacious style and he really is a fantastic little horse.
Going into the race, I had slight doubts about how well he would back up another quick run in top company but I shouldn't have questioned the horse as he is as tough as they come. He must have the constitution of an ox to keep coming back for more and he has come out of the race remarkably well.
Prior to Newcastle, the plan had always been to give him a rest until the spring but I had a chat with Tim Leslie on Thursday and, given how well he has come out of Newcastle, things are now a bit more fluid.
Obviously much depends on the weather for him but I am going to keep ticking him over and if the right race comes along, he may well take his chance.
Peddlers Cross had more on his plate than on his chasing debut but he was thoroughly professional once again and he made a Tolworth Hurdle winner look pretty ordinary despite giving him plenty of weight.
Everything is now on course for Haydock in a couple of weeks time and it is still all systems go with regards to the Arkle in March.
You may have read or heard his name mentioned with reference to the Champion Chase and Matt Chapman asked me about it in the week, but I have absolutely no idea where that came from and he won't be heading in that direction - hopefully he will be around for plenty of Champion Chases in the future!
I was also very pleased with Wymott's performance in the Hennessy and hopefully that will be a springboard to another good season.
For a horse with limited experience, I thought he handled the hurly burly of it all pretty well and jumping the last, I thought he was going to finish fourth.
He just got a bit tired late on and the ground might have been quicker than he would really want, but it was a pleasing start and there are plenty of options for him now.
Aintree is the long-term plan but he has an entry in the Welsh National and the Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock would be another suitable race for him.
It has been a busy time in recent weeks and I have to be pleased with have 20 winners in November - especially seeing the likes of Hollow Tree and Lively Baron win easily having had hard races previously.
A lot of the upcoming racing is at tracks where I wouldn't have that many runners so it is going to get a bit quieter leading up to Christmas. So far so good though!
Donald has several runners in action on Sunday, including the well-regarded Avenging Ace making his eagerly-awaited Rules debut....
With Peddlers Cross and Overturn both in action, as well as Wymott's Hennessy bid, it is a huge weekend for Bankhouse. Read about Donald's brightest hopes here....
Donald gives us the lowdown on Wymott ahead of his run in the Hennessy Gold Cup - the trainer's first runner in the race....
Friday, November 4, 2011
Donald McCain: What a difference a week makes
Donald McCain / Donald McCain / 04 November 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Weird Al is now on course for the Betfair Chase on November 19
"He hasn’t had much continuity through his career for a number of reasons but, fingers crossed, everything looks fine at the moment...."
A week on from Weird Al's Charlie Hall Chase win, Donald McCain reveals exclusively that he will now head to the Betfair Chase at Haydock on November 19. Donald also gives updates on some of the other big guns in the stable in his third weekly column.
What a difference seven days makes - after the disappointment of the previous week, last weekend was one to remember with Weird Al's win in the Charlie Hall a thrill for all at the stable.
I was delighted with the way he did it and I thought Timmy [Murphy] gave him a great ride - he really only knew he was in a race from three out.
He seems to have come out of the race very well, which was obviously a slight concern given the problems he has had over the years. He hasn't had much continuity through his career for a number of reasons but, fingers crossed, everything looks fine at the moment.
The plan for him now is to head for Haydock for the Betfair Chase on November 19 - he is owned by some local lads and we have taken the view that the best time to take on Long Run and Kauto Star could be when they are having their reappearance.
It's certainly an exciting time - it sounds a bit cocky but he really didn't seem to have much of a race at Wetherby and there were still signs through the race that he was a bit green. There is definitely a big engine there though and I couldn't be more pleased with him.
This is going to be a quieter weekend than I was expecting - we had plenty entered up but some wanted softer ground and a few wanted better ground! There are plenty bubbling under and ready to go though, and this does look the calm before the storm.
Wednesday is going to be a big day for the stable with Peddlers Cross due to make his chasing debut at Bangor - he is in at Exeter as well, but that is just in case the Bangor ground were to come up very fast.
I am looking forward to it as much as you can look forward to a horse making its chasing debut - particularly one of his ability - and he is in grand form at home, has schooled well and is just the consummate professional.
We know he is top class and hopefully he will get the job done and we can then start worrying about what comes next.
You may have seen that Overturn was entered in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton but he is going to bypass that and head for the Ascot Hurdle on November 19.
Ascot has been the plan for him for a while now and although the Wincanton race has cut up, I just felt he wasn't quite ready for it.
Finally, I have some positive news regarding Jason Maguire, who has been out of action since that horrible fall in August.
He says he feels great in himself and has been at the yard riding out and schooling. He received the all-clear from his specialist earlier in the week and now it is just a case of when Dr Turner gives him the green light - hopefully we won't have too long to wait.
Weekend Runners, 9am Saturday
Don't forget to check out my column at 9am Saturday for all my Weekend Runners, including my best chances.
Betfair customers had two reasons to celebrate this weekend; not only did New Star Columnist Donald McCain's best chances both win, but they also returned a bigger Betfair SP than the industry......
Donald has three runners at Carlisle on Sunday and a couple of them look to have leading chances....
Donald's two best chances last weekend were both non-runners, but he's hoping for a better time of it with his second Betfair column......
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