Cloudy Lane on track for Fairyhouse
Donald McCain jnr’s charge landed a gamble when scoring at the Cheltenham Festival last month and has continued to delight connections.
“He’s in great nick and ready to run,” said McCain.
“Cheltenham is still championship racing and it’s still the Festival but everything went very straightforward and he travelled well through his race.
“He won well and he was looking around a little bit in front.
“He’s come back very well and fresh and we’re looking forward to the weekend.”
Cloudy Lane has yet to win over a trip further than Cheltenham’s extended three miles but his handler feels he possesses sufficient stamina to make his presence in the Irish National.
“He got every yard of the trip at Cheltenham and he gives you the impression he’ll get it but you don’t know until you try,” he reasoned.
“He deserves his chance and he’s a decent little horse – he’s done nothing wrong and he’s tough.
“He’s a bit more grown up than (stablemate) Regal Heights, which is why he’s been able to run in the handicaps he’s run in as he’s a bit more streetwise.
“He’s got a great weight and must have a very solid chance if he sees it out.”
Cloudy Lane is generally available at 12-1 to land the Fairyhouse feature.
Meanwhile Idle Talk will be given no fancy preparation for the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday week.
The Trevor Hemmings-owned gelding has unseated on his two most recent outings but will not be schooled over National-style fences prior to his date with destiny in the famous race.
“It’s not a thing we do and we never have done,” explained McCain, whose father, Ginger, won the race four times during his training career.
“You can lay spruce across a normal fence but you’ll never make one as stiff as an Aintree fence.
“The Aintree fences are big, but if you’re not going to take to it, you won’t take to it whatever you do,” he explained.
Idle Talk got no further than the fifth fence in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham but is continuing to please connections as Aintree’s four-and-a-half-mile marathon looms large.
“Touch wood, everything seems to be going to plan. Jason (Maguire) sat on him the other day and he was delighted with him,” McCain continued.
“Obviously you need the luck and as excited as you get about it and about your chances, anything can happen.
“But if he gets the opportunity to go out into the country second time round, I’ll be thrilled as he’s got the profile of an improving young horse and he has a bit of quality as well.”
Idle Talk is generally available at 20-1 for the National.
