Donald McCain confident about StanJames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle with Cinders And Ashes
StanJames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle has been brought down to four competitors who are keen to undertake the highly testing ground conditions at Newcastle on Saturday. Two most important withdrawals from its line-up are those from the arch rivals, trainers, Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson. Both had to rule out their opponents in the race due to the pressing ground conditions which could eventually have led to unsatisfactory outcome.
The champion hurdler, Rock On Ruby, who was initially conditioned by Paul Nicholls, has been now sent under the supervision of the handler from the same satellite stable, Harry Fry. He wanted his new under charge to take on an important opening and then do him proud. The plans of course have to be redirected due to the unfavourable conditions.
He stated:
"Unfortunately after the dreadful weather around the country the ground is bound to be very testing on Saturday.”
"To run him first time on this type of going is not ideal.”
"We are looking at the bigger picture because the aim for Rock On Ruby all season is to try to win the Champion Hurdle again in March.”
"And we think he has a decent chance of doing that.”
"So we will give the Fighting Fifth a miss and wait instead for Cheltenham a fortnight later."
The Nicky Henderson trained had to be shown the red flag owing to the ground conditions which would have resulted in an undesirable outcome.
Nicky Henderson said: "We ummed and aahed about it for a long time, but the decision was taken because of the ground."
The ruling out of these two entries have truly left the field vulnerable for Cinders And Ashes to govern it and dictate his own terms. The success is completely crucial because the trainer, Donald McCain has taken back the title for the last two editions of the race and is bidding a hat-trick on Saturday.
Peddlers Cross brought it back for the stable in 2010 and then the pattern was continued by Overturn who accomplished the same for the trainer twelve months back.
The victory will be no small deal for Beat Hollow’s five-year-old bay gelding as he will strike a third graded race in a row and otherwise will complete a winning feat of five.
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