DONALD McCAIN believes he has two horses with the potential to win the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle in Whiteoak and Alegralil.

Whiteoak landed the inaugural running of the Cheltenham Festival event in 2008 but was down the field in the Champion Hurdle last season.

McCain was eyeing a possible World Hurdle bid with the seven-year-old. But after she could only finish sixth behind current World Hurdle favourite Big Buck’s in the Long Walk at Newbury, it is more likely she will run in the Mares contest again.

The unbeaten Alegralil is an exciting prospect, winning two bumpers and two novice hurdles at the smaller venues.

Whiteoak is a best-priced 6-1 with most firms for the Mares race and on Newbury, McCain said: “I wanted to find out, then we could concentrate on the mares’ race, which I think is what we will be doing now.

“She’s better than the Newbury run, because the ground couldn’t have been more against her, but there’s a gap to find. When she has only taken on just mares she has shown how good she is. It’s the obvious target and at this time it’s all systems go to the mares’ hurdle.”

McCain said he would consider running Alegralil – who is 16-1 with Victor Chandler – alongside Whiteoak at Cheltenham, but may have other options for the five-year-old.

He added: “I think I may have talked about her a little too much and I did say at one stage that she compared very favourably with Whiteoak. She still does but she may not be quite as hardened and streetwise as Whiteoak was at the same age, but she is still a very talented mare.

“She will have an entry in a mares’ Listed race at Doncaster at the end of the month and could well step up in grade there. The David Nicholson is a possibility but there’s also the mares’ final at Newbury and I think the handicapper gave her a mark in the 120s so she could go there.

“The next two runs will tell ust.”