Son guns for the top
Donald McCain believes Son Of Flicka could prove to be a name to follow after he opened his account over obstacles in the Ruabon Mountain “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle at Bangor.
Ridden prominently by Jason Maguire, the 7-4 shot went to the front approaching the final flight and stayed on strongly along the run-in to take the spoils.
More by chance than design, the four-year-old has now won the same bumper and novice hurdle as his Grade Two-winning stablemate Whiteoak.
McCain is keeping his fingers crossed he can follow in her hoofprints.
“He deserved to win as he has finished second on his last four starts and more than any other horse in the yard, I wanted him to get his head in front,” said McCain.
“He’s done nothing wrong and has just been beaten by proper horses. He will step up to two and a half miles at some stage but I wouldn’t be surprised if he turned out to be a fair horse.
“It’s strange that he’s won the same bumper and novice as Whiteoak. Let’s hope he turns out to be half as good.”
It was the second leg of a double on the card for McCain after his Bannister Lane claimed victory in the Anderson & Co Handicap Chase.
Sent off a 12-1 chance, having disappointed on his reappearance at Carlisle, he made most of the running in the three-mile-six-furlong marathon and found plenty for Maguire to score by two and a half lengths from New Perk.
“He’s been a while winning as last season he was running well and going up in the weights, so it’s nice he’s got his head in front,” McCain continued.
“I was a little bit disappointed with him at Carlisle last time but he probably needed the race quite badly as he’s a difficult horse to deal with at home.
“It’s great he’s bounced back to form and that’s job done now.”
It was a day to remember for Maguire with the additional victory of the Jim Old-trained Whitewater Dashin the Giles Insurance Handicap Chase providing him with a 178-1 treble.
Tony McCoy and Jonjo O’Neill combined to good effect with two winners on the afternoon.
Firth Of Forth left behind a number of disappointing efforts in the Wild Commercial Property Novices’ Chase, while stablemate The Very Man took the Alfa Aggregate Products Handicap Hurdle.
Dean Coleman guided Moorlands Teri (9-2) to victory in the concluding George Barlow Retirement Intermediate Open NH Flat Race, but the success did come at a price.
The stewards found him guilty of excessive use of the whip and suspended him for two days (December 31 and January 1).
