Ella the latest McCain to add her name to racing's record books

Ella McCain made a dream start to her career under rules with an accomplished success on Dark Confidant at Carlisle on Friday night and is already looking forward to returning to the course for the all-female card on August 7.

McCain, daughter of Grand National-winning trainer Donald and granddaughter of four-time Grand National winner 'Ginger', had turned 16 only eight days previously and she had only just finished her GCSEs.

However, she has around 30 wins under her belt from five years of pony racing and so was certainly not short of experience.

In a race in which the two leaders went very quick, she produced her father's Dark Confidant late to beat favourite Curzon Line by three-quarters of a length, and if winning at the first time of asking wasn't enough she had the satisfaction of having older sister Abby back in fifth.

She said on Saturday: "We knew they'd go quick so I sat in behind a few and waited for the cutaway, when he just took off.

"He was really good and looked after me, but I wouldn't have minded finishing second-last so long as Abby was last! She'd have said the same, by the way!"

McCain has no plans to continue her education and has her heart set on a career in racing.

She continued: "I want to stay in racing and I'm hoping to go to Brian Ellison's for a couple of weeks to see how it goes. I've also ridden out at Chris Wall's in Newmarket."

Carlisle: Ella McCain will return to the course for its all-female card on August 7

The proud father will aim to support both daughters at the August 7 fixture, a card from which the winners go on to have the opportunity of riding in the Betfred Ladies’ Trophy Handicap at Haydock five days later.

Success there carries a £20,000 Jockey Club Racecourses North West Development Award to help further the winning rider's career, but McCain is not getting ahead of herself.

She said: "That would be huge, but I'm not thinking that far ahead. It's one step at a time, but I definitely want to stay riding competitively."