McCain: Cross in flying form
The five-year-old was a hugely impressive winner of the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and McCain has been thrilled with how his charge has taken those exertions.
A number of Cheltenham winners, including Gold Cup hero Imperial Commander, have failed to rediscover that form at the Grand National meeting, but McCain is not too concerned about his star turn.
“It feels like we’ve got everything to lose really after Cheltenham, but he seems in tremendous nick and was bright straight after the race,” said McCain.
“He didn’t seem to have given himself a massively hard race at Cheltenham, even though it was a tough race, so there was no reason not to run him.
“There have been a few of the Cheltenham horses disappointing at Aintree, but at a lesser level two of the horses I took there have won since and Peddlers Cross did recover very quickly.
“We always thought this was the race for him at Aintree.”
Peddlers Cross will face eight rivals including Bygones Of Brid, Duke Of Lucca and Najaf.
Nicky Henderson feels the return to two and a half miles will suit Zaynar down to the ground in the Dick Francis Aintree Hurdle.
The five-year-old put up a fine performance to finish third in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last month, chasing home Binocular and Khyber Kim.
The latter reopposes this weekend, while Zaynar also renews rivalries with Howard Johnson’s giant Quwetwo, who lowered his colours in Kelso’s Morebattle Hurdle in February when Henderson’s grey was the 1-14 favourite.
“He’s in good form and I couldn’t be happier with him,’’ said Henderson.
Noel Meade hopes Muirhead will bounce back to form on the best ground he has encountered since finishing fifth in last year’s Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
“He’s travelled well, settled in well and will like the ground, so it’s just whether he handles the opposition,’’ said Meade.
