Battle for Jockeys' Championship is like David and Goliath, says McCain

Trainer Donald McCain compared the Jump Jockeys’ title race to “David and Goliath” after watching Brian Hughes cut Harry Skelton’s lead to just two winners at Cheltenham.

Hughes landed a crucial blow in the ongoing battle with a well-judged ride aboard 9-1 chance Bannixtown Glory in the Listed Citipost Mares' Handicap Hurdle.

And winning trainer McCain admitted that he took plenty of satisfaction in providing his long-time ally with a crucial success at the home of Jump racing.

He said: “We’ve nearly accepted it, but he’s been very gracious about the whole thing and the only thing we’re trying to do is our job properly. We’ve got some lovely horses and we’re not running horses for the sake of it, he’s riding really well and we’re just trying to do what we can do.”

Referring to Harry Skelton being given rides by 11-time Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls with less than a fortnight of the season remaining, McCain continued “When they’re reeling in the likes of Paul Nicholls into the situation it becomes David and Goliath, but we’re just trying to train winners.

“We’re always the underdog, maybe we’ve been punching above our weight all season but we’ll see what we can do.”

Having sat prominently throughout on the seven year old Bannixtown Glory, Hughes made a crucial move when rounding the bend for home and kicked several lengths clear of the field, before holding on gamely from the Skelton-ridden Eglantine Du Seuil to record a one and three quarter length success for Donald McCain.

Her trainer added: “She’s just a wonderfully tough filly and you just can’t go fast enough with her. She stays really well and loves being out on the front end and just does what she has to do.

“I was a bit surprised turning the bend for home there was nothing going (with her) to be honest, as I said to Brian to straighten up and give her a kick in the belly and see if they can get past her – because we’re only big daft northerners!

Hughes added: “That was grand - she’s a listed winner this year already over three miles at Kempton, so we know she stays well and she’s won at Carlisle in the past so we had a feeling she’d act on an undulating track. It’s not an easy place to compete and she was just getting a little lonely on the straight.”

And on his title bid he continued: “We’re not going to give up, so we just keep taking it race by race and keep chipping away. Winners around here are hard to find, but I’ve got two in two days so I’m not complaining.”

Earlier on the card 10-11 favourite Martello Sky justified odds-on favouritism to win the opener, the Listed Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Mares' Novices' Hurdle for Lucy Wadham.

And winning jockey Aidan Coleman believes there will be plenty of options for the five year old next term after striking on her first try over two and a half miles.

He said: “The race cut up a little bit, but she’s a very nice mare. I really fancied her before the non-runners and that made it a little bit easier but she’s still got to go out there and do it. She won nicely and flicked her ears a little bit approaching the last, but she was always going to win and jumped super which is the main thing, so we’re very happy.

“These mares’ programmes are great, as they’re relatively new they’re not ingrained just yet! But there’s loads of options for her next term.

“It was her first time over the trip, we didn’t go very hard so it was a little bit of a false reading in that respect but she will stay I have no doubts about that and there’s plenty options for her.”

There was a rare defeat at Cheltenham for an Irish raider 35 minutes later as the well-supported 9-4 favourite Scholastic was reeled in by the Alan King-trained Her Indoors, who sealed a three and a half-length success in the Grade Three NAF Fillies' Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at odds of 6-1.

Afterwards King revealed he has been eager to find some opportunities on the Flat for his likeable filly. He said: “I was delighted. It’s a good race to target and we’re delighted with her.

“We thought the smaller field would help her - she just got a bit intimidated in the large field in the Fred Winter, but she came out of it in good form and the one thing she does do is stay very well, so she was always going to power up the hill.

“I would think she’ll go back on the Flat for a few runs now. I wouldn’t think she’ll run over hurdles for a bit and then we’ll see what next winter brings.”

Winning jockey Adrian Heskin added: “I think she was a bit star struck in the Fred Winter last month, but the experience stood her in good stead there.

“She’s a good tough filly and this race was always going to be run to suit with a few front-runners in there. She wants a stiff two miles - her stamina came into play after the last and she won nicely.”