Flicka of hope for McCain

Son Of Flicka gave Donald McCain and Jason Maguire their second winner of the week with a fine performance in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham.

The pair struck with Cinders And Ashes in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on Tuesday and this 16-1 chance had previous Festival form having finished a narrow second in last year’s Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle.

He was still one of a number in with a chance coming down the hill and he quickened off the bend to remain right in the mix.

Joint-favourite Get Me Out Of Here came to challenge after the final flight, but Son Of Flicka kept up the gallop to score by three and a half lengths.

Get Me Out Of Here finished second for the third successive year at the Festival, with Veiled and Silverhand filling the places.

McCain said: ``He's a tough nut to crack this horse. I've had him since he was a three-year-old and he never gives up.

“He’s gone up and up in the weights without winning and he’s deserved a big one.

“You keep shaking your head at the meeting, but we’re lucky to have a yard full of good horses and good owners, and I’ve got a jockey who is riding as well as anyone in the country.”

Get Me Out Of Here’s trainer, Jonjo O’Neill, said: “He’s a great horse and we all knew how hard it was going to be with that weight.

“He’s been second three years in a row now and I wouldn’t mind if he came back next year and was second again.

“He’ll go to Liverpool (Aintree) now and run at level weights over two and a half miles, so we’ll see how he gets on.

“I’d love to try him over fences, but his problems just make it difficult for him.”