aintree_news/

Cloudy Lane Takes Hunters Title
12/04/12

1 Cloudy Lane 4/1 Jt Fav
2 Roulez Cool 14/1
3 Herons Well 33/1
4 Keenan's Future
26 ran

The McCain family’s wonderful Aintree record was further embellished today when Cloudy Lane won the John Smith’s Fox Hunters’ Chase.

Cloudy Lane (right)
© racing-images.co.uk

Rider Richard Harding, wearing the colours of Trevor Hemmings, drove the 12-year-old home by two and three-quarter lengths from Roulez Cool, while Herons Well was two and a quarter lengths back in third.

Winning trainer Donald McCain said: “That was marvellous. He was the first horse I had for Trevor Hemmings having taken him over from Dad [Ginger] and he’s won us a Kim Muir, Grimthorpe, Tommy Whittle, Peter Marsh, Red Square Final - it’s been marvellous. Everything we wanted him to do he’s done.

“He missed last season and we didn’t know what to do with him, but then we decided on the hunter chase route and he’s won this.

“What do you do with an old horse? He’s like a four-year-old at home although I wasn’t happy with him at the beginning of the week when his blood was wrong and my head girl has done a wonderful job with him. She sorted him out and it’s great to see the old horse back.

“He didn’t get the run of the race at Cheltenham [when sixth in the Christie’s Foxhunter Chase] and we made sure we got him out and racing today, and when he got there they weren’t going mad up front and he enjoyed himself. They started racing down the back a bit but Richard bided his time and the horse’s ears were pricked in the home straight.

“I wouldn’t think he’ll run again this season, but he may well be back next year. Aintree is special to us and to have a winner here is wonderful, especially for Trevor Hemmings who has been so supportive of us.”

Harding said: “I gave him a breather turning in, and he idled in front, but he jumped for fun and really loved it. I’ve been around here a few times and been beaten each time, so it’s wonderful to win the race.”

Position	Horse Trainer	Jockey Weight	Starting Price Beaten Distance
1	Cloudy Lane D McCain Jnr	Mr R O Harding 12st 0lbs	4 - 1 Winner
2	Roulez Cool R Waley-Cohen	Mr S Waley-Cohen 12st 0lbs	14 - 1 2 3/4 lengths
3	Herons Well Miss R Curtis	Mr Josh Halley 12st 0lbs	33 - 1 2 1/4 lengths
4	Keenan's Future S Rea	Mr R Hodges 12st 0lbs	25 - 1 1 1/2 length
5	Fresh Air And Fun A Ralph	Mr L R Payter 12st 0lbs	25 - 1 3 1/2 lengths
6	Sizing America P Rich	Mr A J Berry 12st 0lbs	50 - 1 3 1/2 lengths
7	My Way de Solzen Gabe Mahon	Mr W Biddick 12st 0lbs	8 - 1 8 lengths
8	Boxer Georg W P Mullins	Mr P W Mullins 12st 0lbs	17 - 2 Neck
9	Teddy's Reflection Ian Williams	Mr J Hodson 12st 0lbs	66 - 1 1 length
10	Emergency Cover N W Padfield	Miss G Andrews 12st 0lbs	100 - 1 11 lengths
11	Eleazar Mrs L Wadham	Mr M G Nolan 12st 0lbs	50 - 1 4 lengths
12	Silver Adonis Dr R D P Newland	Mr T Weston 12st 0lbs	16 - 1 3 1/4 lengths
13	Bow School Mrs A C Hamilton	Mr W Kinsey 12st 0lbs	33 - 1 Nose
Fell	Blackstaff Mrs J Williams	Miss E Kelly 12st 0lbs	66 - 1
Fell	Gwanako P F Nicholls	Mr James Cowley 12st 0lbs	4 - 1
UnseatedRider	Harps Counsel J K Magee	Mr S F Magee 12st 0lbs	100 - 1
UnseatedRider	Island Life S Flook	Mr R Jarrett 12st 0lbs	12 - 1
UnseatedRider	Kildonnan Mrs F Brewer	Mr G Brewer 12st 0lbs	200 - 1
Fell	King Of The Road Mrs J Ackner	Mr Matthew Hampton 12st 0lbs	150 - 1
PulledUp	Launde C Gordon	Mr A Ward-Thomas 12st 0lbs	100 - 1
UnseatedRider	Offshore Account Mrs T L Bailey	Mr Nicholas Sutton 12st 0lbs	14 - 1
Fell	Presentandcorrect T F Sage	Mr M Wall 12st 0lbs	40 - 1
Fell	Sheriff Hutton Oliver Greenall	Mr O Greenall 12st 0lbs	33 - 1
Fell	The Polomoche M Foley	Mr Sam Painting 12st 0lbs	14 - 1
Fell	Unowatimeen J J O'Shea	Miss Samantha Drake 12st 0lbs	33 - 1
Fell	William Butler C Gordon	Mr P York 12st 0lbs	100 - 1

GINGER’S INFLUENCE

Trevor Hemmings, the owner of the winner Cloudy Lane in the John Smith’s Fox Hunters’ Chase, said: “It’s marvellous to win, especially over the big fences. As small as Cloudy Lane is, he jumps those fences superbly.

“Someone has to take over from Ginger, so I am helping out with the young son. If he needs a telling off, he rings me now!”

Donald McCain added: “Aintree is special to us as a family, so to have a winner here is wonderful.

“Mr Hemmings has supported me since my first season and it’s magic to repay people like him. Cloudy Lane was my first horse for him.

“To see Ginger looking down on me as well, it’s a bit special.”

SAM’S COOL WITH SECOND

Sam Waley-Cohen added to his excellent record over the Grand National fences with his runner-up spot on Roulez Cool in the John Smith’s Fox Hunters Chase.

Waley-Cohen has won this race twice before, captured a Topham Chase and finished second on Oscar Time in last year’s John Smith’s Grand National.

“If you have the right horse,” he said, “this course is a lot of fun. If not, it can be a horror show. But Roulez Cool gave me a great spin today.

“It did take him a while to get going; he didn’t really help me at the first few and I had to be quite positive with him. But once he got into his rhythm, he was fine.

“He does stay well, but he’s only had a couple of runs this season and he just ran out of petrol on the run-in.”

Home-bred Roulez Cool is trained by Waley-Cohen’s father Robert at the family yard near Banbury in Oxfordshire. “Donald McCain and Trevor Hemmings in front of us again!” said Waley-Cohen snr, referring to the victory of Ballabriggs in last year’s John Smith’s Grand National.

“I actually thought he was going to finish third, but he rallied.

“This is not quite in the same league as Long Run and the Cheltenham Gold Cup but it is still great fun and gives us all huge pleasure, especially with a horse we bred ourselves.”

HERONS WELL GIVES HIS YOUNG RIDER A THRILL

Josh Halley has forged a good partnership with his father’s Herons Well, winning a hunter chase at Fontwell last year and running at both Cheltenham and Aintree in each of the last two seasons. By far their most thrilling result to date was today’s third place finish in the John Smith’s Fox Hunters’ Chase.

The young rider, whose father John is Coolmore’s vet, said: “That was terrific. He got a bit outpaced down the back and it didn’t really suit his jumping. He’s getting older but when he started passing horses he really picked up.

“Jumping the last I didn’t think I could catch them but the more horses he passed the better he got. I’m delighted with him.”