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McCain Has Fabalu Aintree Options
17/11/10
Donald McCain has engaged an interesting duo in both the £100,000 Listed totesport.com Becher Chase (1.45pm) and the £60,000 totesuper7 Grand Sefton Handicap Chase at Aintree (12.35pm) on Sunday, November 21 - day two of the Northwest Racing Masters.
The thrilling contests take place over the world famous Grand National course and are highlights of a fantastic seven-race card at Aintree. The totesport.com Becher Chase is a three and a quarter-mile contest, while the totesuper7 Grand Sefton is staged over an extended two miles and five furlongs.
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McCain is looking at both options for last season’s progressive novice Fabalu, as well as Mill Side, who joined his string from Sue Smith during the summer, and the Cheshire trainer, unsurprisingly, has the John Smith’s Grand National in the back of his mind.
McCain’s father, Ginger McCain, saddled the great Red Rum (1973, 1974 & 1977) to win three Grand Nationals and followed up in the world’s most famous steeplechase with Amberleigh House (2004), who also triumphed in the 2001 renewal of the totesport.com Becher Chase.
McCain revealed today: “Fabalu and Mill Side have both been given an entry in the totesport.com Becher Chase and the totesuper7 Grand Sefton but at the moment I’m undecided about which race they’ll run in.
“Both of them are doing grand and are ready to go. Fabalu is a grand horse and I’ve always liked him. Mill Side is lightly raced and I haven’t had him very long, so I’m not sure whether he would be one for Aintree next spring but we’re looking to go that way with Fabalu.”
A high-class entry for the totesport.com Becher Chase includes the past two winners of the Coral Welsh National, Dream Alliance (2009) and subsequent Grade One victor Notre Pere (2008). Also among the entries are the most recent two Scottish Grand National victors, Merigo (2010) and Hello Bud (2009), as well as Irish Raptor, victorious in the 2009 John Smith’s Topham Chase over the famous course.
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Also engaged in the totesuper7 Grand Sefton Handicap Chase are last season’s John Smith’s Topham Chase winner Always Waining from the Peter Bowen yard, the Colin Tizzard-trained Oiseau De Nuit and the Charlie Mann-trained Moon Over Miami.
Jim Goldie is seeking a third totesuper7 Grand Sefton Handicap Chase win in four years following Lampion Du Bost (2007) and Endless Power (2008). Lampion Du Bost is entered for a follow-up bid and also holds an engagement in the totesport.com Becher Chase, as does Craiglands, while Stormin Exit is primed solely for the totesuper7 Grand Sefton.
The day’s racing kicks off with the £8,000 toteplacepot Maiden Hurdle (12.05pm) over an extended two miles and also includes the two and a half-mile £20,000 Live Football Betting at totesport.com Handicap Hurdle (1.10pm), which has attracted last season’s top-class novice Restless Harry among a classy 26-strong entry.
The popular fixture also incorporates the £12,000 toteswinger Flexibetting Handicap Chase (2.20pm) over three miles and a furlong, and continues with the £8,000 toteexacta Flexi Betting Handicap Hurdle (2.55pm) over two and a half miles, before concluding with the £3,000 totepool A Better Way To Bet Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (3.30pm) over two miles and a furlong.
Fondly known as Becher Chase Day, there will be a festive theme to proceedings with Santa Claus and his real-life reindeer on hand to meet children aged under 16, who gain FREE ENTRY to the course if accompanied by an adult. There will be plenty of Christmas shopping opportunities at the course and live Christmas music to provide winter cheer and get racegoers in the Christmas mood.
Coverage of the day’s racing will be shown live on the BBC. Clare Balding will anchor the show and will be joined by Rishi Persad, Grand National-winning jockey Mick Fitzgerald and star commentator Jim McGrath. Three races will be broadcast: totesuper7 Grand Sefton Handicap Chase (12.35pm), the Bet On Live Football At totesport.com Handicap Hurdle (1.10pm) and the totesport.com Becher Chase (1.45pm).
Day one of the Northwest Masters takes place at Haydock Park on Saturday, November 20, when Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander is set to contest the day’s feature event, the Grade One £200,000 Betfair Chase.
