HAVING landed the biggest north west handicap last month, Donald McCain was at it again when winning the totesport.com Chester Cup with Overturn.
McCain is already etched indelibly in the racing history books, but the Cheshire-based trainer keeps adding to his burgeoning reputation.
It may not mean as much as Ballabriggs’ John Smith’s Grand National success at Aintree last month, but fresh from a first seasonal century of winners over the jumps McCain was relishing the Flat victory he craved most.
Overturn had already given the Bankhouse stable a big Flat race success when landing the Northumberland Plate at Newacstle last summer. The Tim Leslie-owned seven-year-old also won the Scottish Champion and Galway Hurdles during a busy summer.
And although he has failed to add to those victories over the winter, he returned to the level after excellent placed efforts in both the Christmas Hurdle and back at Ayr in the Scottish Champion Hurdle last month. And much as he did in last year’s ‘Pitmen’s Derby’ success Overturn (11-2), under an astute ride again from jockey Eddie Ahern, he jumped out from the plum draw in stall one and led from start to finish in the Roodee feature.
Only last year’s runner-up Tastahil (8-1) got close to McCain’s charge during the 2m2f contest. But in the end the Barry Hills-trained seven-year-old had to settle for second again, a length and three-quarters behind the gutsy Overturn.
McCain landed first Flat success at this Chester May meeting with the Ahern-ridden Temple Place. He said: “I can’t say I particularly know what I’m doing when it comes to this (Flat racing), but we knew he was in good nick and he had a great draw.
“It all looked simple, although it’s not. On his day he’s a hell of a horse to pass. He’s just a fantastic little horse and we said beforehand that even if he never won again, he’s done enough.
“As I said before Aintree, every time you think it can’t get any better, something else happens.
“I said before I had always wanted to win the Chester Cup and it is great that I have now. It’s great to come here. As a boy I grew up watching the likes of Sea Pigeon win this and dreamed of having a winner here.”
Ahern added: “I didn’t think I’d get as easy lead as I did, but I got him away quickly and we soon had a three or four-length lead.
“From there on in, he did it all himself and he is able to keep giving himself breathers. No-one came to me in the end.”
Whether Overturn stays on the Flat or returns to hurdling over the summer has not yet been decided. But Royal Ascot or a return to Newcastle or Galway are all under consideration.
McCain added: “We’ll play it by ear now. We’ll look at the Northumberland Plate again and also Galway, although he’d have an awful lot of weight there.”
Part-owner Michael Tabor gave his approval to filly Wonder Of Wonders’ part-owner Michael Tabor after she booked her place at Epsom with an excellented succes in the Weatherbys Bank Cheshire Oaks earlier at Chester.
A traditional Investec Oaks trial, won most recently by Epsom heroines Light Shift in 2007, the regally-bred Wonder Of Wonders justified her 6-5 favourite under Ryan Moore with a two and three quarter length success over front runner Blaise Chorus.
A close relation of Galileo and Sea The Stars, the Kingmambo filly is a best-priced 8-1 second favourite with most firms for the Oaks. Tabor said: “Why wouldn’t you go for the Oaks now? That will be the next run for her unless Aidan has other ideas, and I doubt that. She had only won a Tipperary maiden but she’s beautifully bred and Chester is a good learning curve.”
Meanwhile Warrington’s champion jockey Paul Hanagan had a first day double aboard Lily’s Angel and Doctor Parkes.
CHESTER PREDICTIONS (DAY TWO): 1.45pm Captain Bertie (NAP) 2.20pm Await The Dawn 2.55pm Treasure Beach 3.30pm Lord Ali McJones 4.05pm Thin Red Line 4.35pm Oneladyowner 5.10pm Granny McPhee
