McCain and Maguire in treble form at Catterick
Corrin Wood was the star of the show as the six-year-old grey swept to an all-the-way victory in the Buy Your 2014 Annual Badge Today Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.
The 10-11 favourite put in a foot-perfect clear round as he came home 23 lengths clear of Dursey Sound.
Diocles (4-1) set the ball rolling for the Cholmondeley team when getting off the mark over fences on his first start for 232 days.
The seven-year-old took the Catterick Interactive Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase by 14 lengths from Big Water.
The middle leg of the trio was a dead-heat as Gulf Punch shared the spoils with Harris after a thrilling finish to the Watch On 3 Devices racinguk.com/Anywhere Handicap Hurdle.
Pudsey House looked certain to score when he went clear two out, but he curled up close home and was mugged by the 5-1 co-favourites in the dying strides. James Reveley was aboard the William Kinsey-trained Harris.
Maguire and McCain were denied a four-timer when Master Dee had to settle for second place behind Beatu (6-1) in the Racing Again On Saturday 28th December Intermediate Open National Hunt Flat Race.
Tony McCoy had the evens favourite’s measure in the final furlong on Stuart Crawford’s Co Antrim raider, who drew away by six lengths.
“We’re delighted with him. We were disappointed he hadn’t won his point-to-points. He was probably just a bit too careful a jumper at this stage,” said Crawford.
“He likes decent ground which is why we’ve ended up coming here. My brother thought he’d improved since he ran here the last day (when third). He couldn’t have been anymore impressive today. We’re very pleased and very excited about him.
“We’ll see how he comes out of this race. He could possibly be a horse to think about the bumper at Aintree in the spring.”
It was McCoy’s second winner of the day, the champion jockey having earlier steered Forthefunofit (11-4 favourite) to a comfortable success on his jumping debut in the yorkshire-outdoors.co.uk Novices’ Hurdle.
