Railway Dillon: Improved for the headgearWETHERBY BRACE FOR ON-SONG McCAIN Click here for Wetherby settlers page Live horse racing results!Horse racing racecards and form!Horse racing non-runners!Horse racing video replays!
With the Cheltenham Festival now just around the corner, Donald McCain gave further evidence his string are in peak form by saddling a double at Wetherby.
Provided all goes well in the meantime, the master of Cholmondeley will be heading to Prestbury Park with an impressive array of talent, with leading stars Peddlers Cross and Cinders And Ashes set for their respective assignments next month.
Recent Ayr winner Railway Dillon got the show on the road when bolting up in the wetherbyracing.co.uk Novices’ Chase.
The 5-1 chance had shown precious little in his first three outings over fences but, fitted with headgear for the first time in Scotland, he easily got the better of a match with Yes Tom.
The headgear once again had the desired effect for Jason Maguire’s mount as he galloped his rivals into submission and came home 16 lengths clear of Pena Dorada.
“He was one that I was really worried about when the new whip rules came in as he is notoriously lazy, but the blinkers have been the making of him,” said McCain.
“We always knew he would need them at some stage, but we’ve had to use them earlier than we imagined and to be honest, the man on top makes a big difference to him.
“Today has been the plan for a couple of weeks because he’s got three owners and this is the first time they’ve all been on track together.”
The Bramham Hall For Conferences & Banquets Novices’ Hurdle looked a warm heat on paper, with last season’s Champion Bumper runner-up Destroyer Deployed facing well-fancied Alan King raider Volcan Surprise.
But neither could live with the front-running Jackson Cage (11-2), who beat 100-1 shot Valsesia by six lengths, with Destroyer Deployed beating Volcan Surprise to third.
“He’s no star, but it was a fair performance giving away a penalty. He was giving a stone to the favourite and plenty to a horse who was second in a Champion Bumper, although, to be fair, that one hasn’t jumped well,” McCain added.
“He’ll get further and he’ll jump a fence and the better ground has made all the difference.”
Mac Aeda recorded his second victory at the track in the Yorkshire Post Ladies Day – 24th May Handicap Chase.
Malcolm Jefferson’s 9-1 chance travelled like the best horse throughout on his first start outside novice company, cruising to front under a confident Brian Hughes after rounding the home bend.
He began to wander after jumping the final obstacle, but still passed the post with three and a quarter lengths in hand over the staying-on Jaunty Journey.
Jefferson said: “He’s a grand horse and he lost a shoe, so it’s an even better performance than it looks.
“He stays well and he’ll go on most ground and he’s still learning about the game really.
“That’s two he’s won this year and if we can win another with him, I’d be over the moon.
“He’s a horse for next year and he’ll get four miles if we want him, too.”
Lucy Alexander got 8-1 shot Stanley Bridge up in the Wetherby Racecourse Sunday Car-Boot-Sale Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, while the Martin Keighley-trained Total Submission (12-1) defied a big weight in the Follow Wetherby Racecourse On Facebook & Twitter Handicap Hurdle.
Alan Swinbank’s Saveiro (9-1) landed a few hefty bets when also carrying a welter burden to victory in the Party In The Paddock – 7th June Handicap Chase.
Oliver Sherwood’s 8-1 chance Many Clouds made a most impressive start to his career in the concluding bumper.
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us Facebook
Click here to send us your sporting feedback
Latest Racing Stories
WOLVERHAMPTON – (five-year record) EAGLE ROCKS FOR TATE GRANDOUET STILL IN CHAMPION FRAME PIMPERNEL CHASING OAKS PRIZE JOHNSTON: RIGHT DECISION FOR SDS PURPLE COULD TAKE PLUS CHANCE BIG GUNS STAY IN ARKLE MIX PACKAGE TO DELIVER AT CHELTENHAM HUGHES WELCOMES WHIP CHANGES SATURDAY SWITCH FOR CORONATION CUP