Whiteoak win the highlight of trainer Donald McCain’s four-timer

Nov 24 2009 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

WHITEOAK continued Donald McCain’s sparkling form as the mare’s win at Kempton was the highlight for a superb across-the-card four-timer from the Cheshire stable.

An accident on the M6 meant McCain has to stay at Bankhouse stables. But it didn’t prevent his charges from scoring as the former Cheltenham Festival winner Whiteoak bounced back to form with a superb victory in the Starlight Children’s Foundation Mares’ Hurdle at Kempton.

McCain had four winners in three days over the weekend, but he clocked up the same amount with Riptide at Ffos Las, Wizards Dust at Ludlow and Khachaturian at Kempton adding to Whiteoak’s win.

The six-year-old mare had not won since landing the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle at the Festival in 2008, but she looked back to her best when scoring by seven lengths on her first try at the three-mile trip yesterday.

Cheltenham again is the long-term aim and she is 9-2 third favourite with Paddy Power for a repeat win in the Mares contest. But now she has proved her ability to stay beyond 2m4f the Ladbrokes World Hurdle – for which is a best-priced 16-1 with William Hill and Skybet – is a possibility.

Speaking from his Cholmondeley base, McCain said: “We’ve had five runners, four winners and a second so it has been a proper day.

“I am thrilled Whiteoak got her head in front. She is bred to get three miles and we always thought she would.

“Now she has won over the trip it opens more options and she lacked the gears to stay with Celestial Halo last time. She’s had two quick runs so we won’t be in a hurry with her, but the World Hurdle would be a possibility somewhere along the line.”

Whiteoak was McCain’s first Kempton winner at the fourth attempt and he doubled his tally in the next race as Khachaturian (4-1) scores over fences in the Boodles Diamond Beginners’ Chase.

McCain added: “He has been set some tough tasks in the past so he deserved to get his head in front.”

It has been a fine few weeks for McCain, whose has an excellent string of horses.

Alegralil has already shown huge promise, winning two bumpers and impressing on her hurdling debut at Towcester earlier this month.

Inventor landed an Introductory Hurdle at Ascot on Friday and Wymott scored at Kelso, Peddlers Cross impressed in a bumper at Haydock on Saturday, while Always Bold won at Musselburgh on Sunday.

McCain said: “We have Allegralil, Inventor won at Ascot and the horse that won at Kelso was mighty impressive. They are youngsters, babies really, but they are smashing material and I hope I don’t make a mess of them.

“They are all long-term prospects and if they are ready for Cheltenham and Aintree we will go. But I am in no mad rush to spoil them there this year. With Alegralil we will try and get some black type with her. But it is early days and we will look after them properly.

“I was panicking a bit with Peddlers Cross. We paid a lot of money for him and it was good he won. He will come on a bundle for that.

“We have got a nice bunch of horses. It is just great to be going to the races with chances every day.”

Meanwhile Denman is clear favourite with the bookmakers to win a second Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday, despite giving lumps of weight away.

Paul Nicholls’ 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero will carry 11st 12lb in the historic handicap, 12lb more than his nearest rival, Joe Lively.

His presence among the 37 to stand their ground at the six-day stage means only 17 horses are in the handicap proper.

TODAY’S NAP: Barton Sun (2.50pm Sedgefield)