Donald McCain Stable Tour

Form profile

Winner of nine of his 18 starts and currently rated 145 over fences. Winner of his last four novices’ handicap chases and placed in two others. Started his winning sequence at Uttoxeter (2m 4f) in July when beating Silver Sheens 12 lengths off a mark of 125 and gained his last success at Perth (2m 4f) in September when beating Haribo Collonges 24 lengths off a mark of 142.

Trainer says

He is having a little break now and will coming back around Christmas. He has taken to the job really well and gets two and a half miles really well and might get a bit further along the way. He is just a thoroughly likeable little horse.

Form profile

Finished third, beaten eight lengths, to Chosen Judge in a point-to-point in Ireland in April.

Trainer says

His form has worked out well and the second horse in his point-to-point made over £140,000 and he is a likeable type. He’s a big horse and I can’t believe he ran in his point-to-point as a four-year-old. He is doing his job really nicely and he is going to jump a fence in time. I still own him at the moment, and I haven’t advertised him, but we will try and find him and owner in the near future.

Form profile

Winner of three of his 11 starts and currently rated 123 over hurdles. Has won his three starts since joining the stable. Scored by 24 lengths from Sanosuke in a novices’ handicap hurdle at Musselburgh (2m 4f) in March off a mark of 103, beat Special Rate two lengths in a novices’ hurdle at Kelso (2m 2f) in April and Harper Valley five lengths in another novices’ hurdle at Kelso (2m 5f) in May.

Trainer says

Ballyporeen had a little setback after his last run, and he is just about ready to come back. He has been great since he joined us, and it looks like he will jump a fence. We will just get him back and then go from there.

Form profile

Winner of a point-to-point in Ireland in January scoring by a length and a quarter from Milan Act.

Trainer says

He is a big, gorgeous horse but he is not a quick fix and is a long-term horse. He is 17 hands plus and has a good pedigree and we will just take our time with him.

Form profile

Winner of four of his 17 starts and currently rated 125 over fences and hurdles. Gained his best placing last season when runner-up, beaten 16 lengths, to Notlongtillmay in a novices’ handicap chase at Musselburgh (2m 4 1/2f) in January off a mark of 134.

Trainer says

I gave up on fences probably a little bit too soon last season and he was beaten 16 lengths by Notlongtillmay who finished runner-up in a Grade 1 novices’ chase at the Cheltenham Festival. He ran well when we went back hurdling and then the season was finished. I think we might start back hurdling and then go over fences again at some point.

Form profile

Winner of a point-to-point in Ireland in February when scoring by nine lengths from Mickie Angel.

Trainer says

He is a nice horse who is by Milan, and I think will be a staying horse. He has a nice way about him when winning his point-to-point and just has a nice way about him. There are no plans for him as yet.

Form profile

Winner of two of his four bumpers. Scored by half a length from Esprit Du Potier at Ayr in November and by eight lengths from Go West at Doncaster in January. Pulled up before four out on his hurdling bow at Bangor (2m 1/2f) last week.

Trainer says

He was a disappointing the other day and got a fright early and jumped badly early on and Brian pulled him up to make sure he was okay. He seems okay and we are going to check everything. We thought plenty of him last year and, hopefully, we can get him back fairly soon.

Form profile

Finished runner-up in his point-to-point in Ireland in April 22 and third, beaten five and a half lengths, to Florida Dream in a bumper at Musselburgh in January and fourth, beaten 19 lengths, to Luckie Seven in a bumper at Doncaster in March. Unseated rider two out at Bangor (2m 1/2f) last week.

Trainer says

He ran really well the first day at Musselburgh and then went to Doncaster and for some reason ran away with Brian (Hughes). We went out of our way to make sure he did his job right the other day at Bangor and we probably didn’t ride him to suit the track, but he was running a lovely race when unseating at the second last. He just overjumped and pitched on his head. The winner of David Pipe’s, Wordsworth, is obviously pretty good and Brian said he was not going to say he would have won, but he was not done with when he unseated. He doesn’t necessarily need soft ground, so it won’t be too long before he is out again.

Form profile

Winner of two of his three hurdle races. Scored by 19 lengths from Chase A Fortune in a novices’ hurdle at Sedgefield (2m 1f) in March and followed up by 12 lengths from Mr Hailstone in a similar event over that course and distance later that month, Disappointed on his final start in a handicap hurdle at Ayr (2m) in April when unplaced, beaten 68 lengths, to Afadil off a mark of 123.

Trainer says

He is a forward going two-miler and I have schooled him over fences. He is not very big but some of the sharper track on soft ground will be fine and we should have a good bit of sport with him. He won his novices hurdle well and I would expect him to do well over fences too.

Form profile

Winner of two of his 7 races and currently rated 121 over fences and hurdles. Finished runner-up, beaten two and three quarter lengths, to Chapel Green in a novices’ handicap chase at Hexham (1m 7 1/2f) last week off his current mark.

Trainer says

He ran a lovely race the other day at Hexham and was the best horse in the race. I knew going to Hexham wasn’t the right thing to do with my type of horse. On heavy ground and with 12 stone there was every chance he was going to get beat but he’s ran a very nice race. He jumped great but if he was ever going to get beat it, then would be at Hexham.

Form profile

Runner-up in a point-to-point in Ireland in February and finished third, beaten two and three quarter lengths, to Coco Mademoiselle in a bumper at Wetherby in April when trained by Michael Scudamore.

Trainer says

Lynne and Angus Maclennan have sent me a couple of horses and he is a nice horse who finished third in his bumper for Michael Scudamore. He has schooled well, and he is a likeable horse, but I can’t tell you much more as I haven’t had him long.

Form profile

Winner of his second point-to-point in Ireland in April scoring by 12 lengths from Poetry Man.

Trainer says

He is another nice horse and I he came to me from the Considines who make a good job of them. I was thrilled when the Owners’ Group sent him to me, and he is in fast work now. He is likeable horse, and we are looking forward to getting him started.

Form profile

Winner of his second point-to-point in Ireland when beating Doonbeg Don five lengths.

Trainer says

He was recommended by Donnchadha Doyle, and he won his division of the maiden nicely despite running around a bit after the last. He is nearly ready to run, and we are just waiting for the ground, but he goes nicely.

Form profile

Winner of his English point-to-point in March.

Trainer says

I don’t buy many English point-to-pointers but he’s had a nice introduction and has got intriguing pedigree. He only beat a horse that rated pretty low before it went back point-to-pointing but that was that Chief Black Robe that won four races for Fergal O’Brien this summer. The sire Polarix on the ground but those that have run have done well.

Form profile

Winner of a point-to-point in Ireland in October 2021 when scoring by a length and a half from Hector Javilex.

Trainer says

He had a small setback last season, nothing serious, but is back grafting now. He is a powerful horse, and we are going to take our time with him, but he is eventually going to make a lovely chaser.

Form profile

Winner of five of his 9 starts and currently rated 135 over hurdles. Gained his last success in a handicap hurdle at Bangor (2m 3 1/2f) in March when beating Homme Public three lengths off a mark of 131. Subsequently ninth, beaten 15 lengths, to Fennor Cross in a Grade 3 Handicap Hurdle at Aintree (2m 4f) in April off a mark of 136.

Trainer says

He had a school the other day and it is highly likely we are going to go novice chasing with him. He will be effective between two to two and a half miles, and he is a horse we like a lot.

Form profile

Winner of his point-to-point in Ireland in March when scoring by a length from Electric Jet.

Trainer says

We gave a few quid for him at the Aintree Sale and I like what I see from him.

Form profile

Winner of 9 of his 22 starts and currently rated 138 over fences and 125 over hurdles. Best most recent effort over fences when third, beaten two and a quarter lengths, to Calico in handicap chase at Doncaster in March off a mark of 141. Finished sixth, beaten 16 ½ lengths, to Boombawn when last seen out in a Handicap Hurdle at Aintree (2m 4f) in May off a mark of 128.

Trainer says

He has a good year, and he doesn’t find jumping fences easy, but he has a lot of ability and is always going to win his races as a result of it. We will probably go to that first Wetherby meeting as he won’t mind the ground and we will see where we go with him.

Form profile

Winner of five of his 7 starts and currently rated 146 over hurdles. A winner three times last season and landed his most prestigious success in the Grade 2 River Don Novices’ Hurdle at Doncaster (3m 1/2f) in January when beating Stay Away Fay a length. Subsequently runner-up, beaten a length and three quarters, to Apple Away in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree (3m 1/2f) in April.

Trainer says

We were obviously delighted with him last year and it was unfortunate he got beat at Aintree. He pulls himself up in front, so we had to sit and wait, and the winner just quickened from the front. He’s a lovely horse and we haven’t decided where we are going at the moment. He schooled well over fences which I expected knowing where he came from, and hurdles are an option. We will decide a little further down the line which way we go.

Form profile

Winner of seven of his 17 starts and currently rated 155 over fences. Finished third, beaten seven lengths, to Pic D’Orhy in the Grade 1 Melling Chase at Aintree (2m 4f) in April.

Trainer says

He had a gallop away from home the other day. He ran a blinder in his Grade 1 in the spring at Aintree and on his day, I think there is a Grade 1 in him on a certain day when everything is run to suit him. However, he is a bit one dimensional and probably needs to go right-handed over two and a half or two mile six. He is a very useful little horse, and he may start in the Old Roan at Aintree if we are still happy with him.

Form profile

Winner of 11 of his 22 starts and currently rated 145. Gained his last success when beating Broken Quest half a length, Finished 15th of 39, beaten 85 lengths, to Corach Rambler in the Grand National at Aintree (4m 2 1/2f) in April off a mark of 147.

Trainer says

The plan was always to go to Aintree as I have always wanted to have a Grand National runner for Tim Leslie. He hadn’t had a smooth preparation and we only managed to sneak one run into him in a handicap hurdle on ground he didn’t like at Bangor. We were thrilled with his run at Aintree, and he jumped like a buck and did everything right but got tired going down to the second last. With the preparation we had that is fairly understandable and with a fair wind we will go back to the Sefton after a little run somewhere and go from there. We won’t concentrate on just the National and will go racing with him and he could go back in trip as well.

Form profile

Winner of 13 of his 31 starts and currently rated 135 over fences. A winner twice this season and gained his last success in a handicap chase at Perth (2m 4f) in August when scoring by 38 lengths from Golden Taipan over a mark of 134.

Trainer says

He normally does most of his winning in the summer as he is ground dependent, and I would say there is a big day in him on the right day. He didn’t really enjoy Market Rasen the other day as he was too wide and it was too quick and it wasn’t really appropriate. He has been a great horse for us and there are more days in him.

Form profile

Winner of five of his 12 starts and currently rated 143 over fences. A winner of three chases last season and ended his campaign with a half-length defeat of Dubai Days at Ayr (2m 4 1/2f) in April.

Trainer says

I don’t think he will be ready for an Old Roan, and I would say it would be early November at the moment. He finished his year off nicely winning the Hillhouse Quarry at Ayr and he is getting his act together and is a nice horse.

Form profile

Winner of two of his 9 starts and currently rated 125 over hurdles. Gained his last success in a novices’ hurdle at Newcastle (2m 1f) in February when scoring by four and a quarter lengths from Chase A Fortune.

Trainer says

He will be going novice chasing and is a big heavy horse but only wants two miles. He needs to go left-handed and won’t be far off running.

Form profile

Winner of six of his 12 starts and currently rated 137 over fences. Gained his last success in a novices’ handicap chase at Newcastle in January when beating Tommy’s Oscar four and a half lengths off a mark of 136.

Trainer says

He had a little setback at the end of last year and was late coming back but he is a solid likeable horse. Hopefully we can win more races with him.

Form profile

Winner of two of his 4 starts and currently rated 110. Winner of a bumper at Catterick in November when beating Tipperary Star half a length and a novice hurdle at Carlisle (2m 1f) in February when scoring by two lengths from Dunnet Head.

Trainer says

He was very immature and weak last year but we managed to win a race and I would like to think he can improve plenty. As it turned out, both of the horses that beat him on ground he didn’t like both won at Hexham the other day, so it probably wasn’t the worst race in the world. I think he is going to keep on improving.

Form profile

Three times winning point-to-pointer in Ireland from 7 starts. Dead heated with Old Style Humor when last seen out in March.

Trainer says

He is very much a staying chaser and may take a little time to get there. He is an older point-to-pointer who jumps and stays.

Form profile

Winner of four of her five hurdles and currently rated 127. Completed a four-timer when beating Carrigeen Kampala eight lengths in a novice event at Stratford (2m 1/2f) in July.

Trainer says

She had a little knock after she run but she has just started riding back now. She has won a lot of races, a lot of prize money and a lot of bonuses too. I don’t think she is just a summer jumper; I think she is better than that. We will keep on picking up money in these mare races during the year.

Form profile

Winner of one of his 3 hurdles and currently rated 113. Scored by three and three quarter lengths from Faded Fantasy in a maiden hurdle at Bangor (2m 1/2f) in May when last seen out.

Trainer says

He is a nice horse who ran well in his first race over hurdle to be beaten by the horse that won the EBF Final (Crambo). He won his race at Bangor then fell early on at Sedgefield. He is a likeable horse, and he will go novice chasing. We quite like him.

Form profile

Faller in her first two point-to-points in Ireland but came good third time of asking when beating Knock On Wood 16 lengths in March.

Trainer says

He is a soft ground staying point-to-pointer with a nice way about him. I won’t be in a hurry with him as he is a winter ground horse.

Form profile

Runner-up in his only point-to-point in Ireland in March 2022.

Trainer says

He missed last year with an injury but is cantering away now and he is a horse with plenty of talent if we can keep him in one piece.