Talking Trainers - Part III

DONALD McCAIN - Bankhouse, Cholmondeley, Cheshire

Horses covered: 57

The Grand National winning trainer reached three figures for a sixth time last winter accumulating 117 winners, including a Grade 2 win for Maximilian in the River Don Novices' Hurdle at Doncaster in January. The former Irish pointer went close to claim a Grade 1 prize in the Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree in the spring on the same afternoon stablemate Minella Drama was third in the Grade 1 Melling Chase. The McCain squad has been strengthened further during the summer with the arrival of a whole raft of ex-pointers from across the Irish Sea. Expect more of the same from 'Mr Consistency' who should be followed at tracks such as Ayr (67 winners from 309 runners (22%)), Bangor On Dee (221 from 113 (20%)), Fontwell (10 from 28 (36%)), Kelso (85 from 431 (20%)), Musselburgh (92 from 416 (22%)), Newton Abbot (7 from 30 (23%)), Perth (61 from 257 (24%)), Plumpton (5 from 16 (31%), Sedgefield (155 from 736 (21%)), Southwell (6 from 22 (27%)) and Wincanton (7 from 22 (32%)). 

Donald says on page 76 regarding an unbeaten five year old: "A gorgeous big horse who I never thought we would be able to buy because I was expecting him to make a lot of money at the sales."

One Jump Ahead is the only place to read a detailed lengthy stable interview with Donald because he won't be featuring in the Racing Post's stable tours.

GARY MOORE - Cisswood Racing Stables, Sandygate Lane, Lower Beeding, West Sussex

Horses covered: 40

Similar to Alan King, a top-class dual purpose operator, Gary's jumpers have been in tremendous form during the last three seasons with tallies of 61, 92 and 76. During that period, the stable have sent out 10 Graded winners, including Grade 1 wins for the ill-fated Porticello and Editeur Du Gite. With the assistance of son's Jamie and Josh, the yard have built up a strong National Hunt team recruiting well, in particular, from France. Watch out for the Moore runners at Fontwell (284 winners from 1535 runners (19%)), Lingfield (75 from 448 (17%)), Ludlow (15 from 66 (23%)) and Plumpton (222 from 1278 (17%)).

"He looks fantastic. He is a lovely horse who is well handicapped," believes Gary about a lightly raced five year old on page 85.

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Readers of the Autumn Update will be aware Matsuri was flagged up as an unraced two year old to keep an eye on. Roger Varian's charge made his racecourse bow in the opening division of the one mile novice at Salisbury on Thursday and came within a short head of making a winning start to his career. Positioned on the outside, the Sea The Stars colt made good headway under James Doyle before engaging in a sustained duel with another debutant La Pasionaria. In front a stride before the line, he was headed where it mattered. On this evidence, it shouldn't be long before he goes one well - probably on the all-weather next month. It was a frustrating defeat nevertheless.

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