McCain hopes long-term Lane aim comes off

Feb 22 2008 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

AFTER gearing Bannister Lane’s season around the totesport Eider Chase at Newcastle, Donald McCain junior is hoping the plan works to perfection tomorrow.

The eight-year-old has run creditably on all three starts this season but has yet to win.

Bannister Lane was an excellent third over the National fences in the Grand Sefton Chase at Aintree in the autumn on his seasonal reappearance. That was over an inadequate 2m5f, and since then he has finished third at Bangor and runner-up to Lucky Nellerie in the North Yorkshire Grand National at Catterick. Both of those runs were over 3m6f under big weights.

McCain’s charge is effective at extreme distances and tomorrow’s 4m1f marathon will be ideal. There is rain forecast and any worsening of the good to soft conditions in the North East would also strengthen Bannister Lane’s claims.

He is 10-1 with sponsors totesport and his trainer said: “He’ll more than likely run, it’s been the plan all year to be honest. A bit more of the rain that is forecast would be great. He’s a proper old-fashioned staying chaser. He’s had to carry big weights so far this season and when he had top-weight at Bangor over 3m6f we possibly weren’t positive enough on him. All he does is keep galloping.

“His last run at Catterick was solid and this should suit him even more. He’s better off with the winner (Lucky Nellerie) and the bigger fences at Newcastle should suit him because he is a good jumper. He does seem to genuinely stay forever and he is tough. He’s a bit of a boy at home and we can’t get to the bottom of him. I think this will really suit him.”

McCain has decided against sending one of his stable’s leading lights, Regal Heights, to Kempton for the Racing Post Chase tomorrow with the ground drying out in the south.

The seven-year-old was second to Denman in the Aon Chase on his last start. That was his first try over three miles and McCain is now eyeing the William Hill Trophy over a similar trip at the Cheltenham Festival.

He said: “He’s in three races at Cheltenham. He’s in the William Hill, the Racing Post Plate and the Ryanair. I would imagine he’ll run in one of the handicaps and we’ll be looking for the best ground, which will be on the first day, so he may run in the William Hill.

“I’ve not been in this position that often but he’s a decent horse and he deserves decent entries so we’ll pick and choose and hopefully we’ll get some decent ground because on decent ground he’s a very good horse.

“He got three miles well behind Denman but he was ridden to get it and at least the handicapper left him alone.

“It’s difficult when you are up against a horse like that because you don’t know whether to take him on and cut your own throat or not.

“We went there to see if he stayed three miles and I think he does.”

Meanwhile the Cholmondeley stables’ John Smith’s Grand National, Cloudy Lane, remains on course for the totesport.com Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster next weekend en route to Aintee.

The Trevor Hemmings-owned eight-year-old is a best priced 12-1 with Coral, BetFred and Boylesports for the National and McCain said: “Cloudy’s in great form. He’s got an entry in the William Hill but the plan is to still go to the Grimthorpe.

“Obviously the only worry at Donny is that it could get too quick, although he does go on it.

“The target is Aintree and whatever we do will be geared towards Aintree, but he’s in tremendous nick and hopefully he’ll run in the Grimthorpe next weekend.”

TODAY’S NAP: Glad Big (4.50pm Warwick).