'He is a real dark horse and looks to have a nice future'

This stable tour was originally printed in the Racing Post Weekender on Wednesday, December 30. Buy the Weekender every week for top stable tours and great insight from weekly columnist Alan King.

You cannot keep a good man down, and Donald McCain has proved that old adage to be spot-on having fought his way back after the devastating blow in 2015 when the Rooneys removed 67 horses from the Bankhouse set-up.

“It hit us hard but what I learned from that was what great owners and staff I still have and between us we are getting back to where we were,” says McCain.

“What was the hardest to stomach was that so many of them were young and up-and-coming horses, but you have to swallow the pill and pick yourself up. I certainly learned some lessons from that time. Things are going nicely for us now and we have worked very hard to assemble a lovely string with plenty of youngsters with potential.

“My owners have been extremely loyal and I’d like to think we are repaying them with results. I will not be sending out 150-plus winners in a season again, but we are looking to a better quality of horse. Numbers have never been that important as my job is to do the best I can for each horse, not myself. The numbers are still good and we already have 37 winners in the bag this season and there is a chance we can better the last two seasons (62 and 63).”

Although it has been a hard year for everyone with Covid-19, the Cheshire-based handler is full of praise for the powers that be: “I know we all think it has been hard but we have been very lucky in racing. The show goes on daily and we all get outside and work in fresh air every day. You look around and see how others are doing these days and you are thankful to be involved in our sport.”

Followers of the McCain team will know he has a great record at Bangor (178 wins) and Sedgefield (119), while strike-rates at Fakenham (36 per cent), Perth (27 per cent), Stratford (24 per cent) and Bangor (22 per cent) make runners well worth close inspection.

Bannixtown Glory
6 b m Fame And Glory – Me Auld Segosha
I would not mind a yard-full like her as she just turns up every time. She is tough and as honest as any horse could be, and this term she has won three races. Her recent win at Kempton in a Listed mares’ hurdle was the reason for a big hike in the ratings, with 12lb added to her previous mark of 123, and she could find it tough now in handicaps – she finished fifth in one back at Kempton on Sunday. However, the programme for mares is very good now and I think we should be able to find her some nice opportunities within that programme.

Bannixtown Glory is tough and honestCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Bareback Jack
4 b g Getaway – Dubh Go Leir
We are enjoying a good campaign so far but the most important aspect of the operation to me is the strength of the youngsters coming through and this fellow looks a lovely prospect. He won his only point-to-point at Punchestown in February and looked the part when he arrived here. He is a bit raw and immature but his work had been nice and we sent him to Musselburgh last month very hopeful of a winning debut. He did the job well enough in a 2m maiden hurdle, while the runner-up won next time out to give the form some substance. He will not appreciate the ground on the boggy side so we are going to be very careful where we place him, but the fact he won despite his immaturity augurs well for the future and he is ready to roll when we can find the right race and conditions.

Barnabas Collins
5 b g Shantou – G Day Sile
I saw him win the bumper we ran Barrichello in at Carlisle and I had to have him. I bought him privately at the sales from Stuart Crawford and I really like him. He has not been here too long but we started cantering him and he looks a very straightforward type, sharp and likeable. Definitely one to follow.

Barrichello
4 b g Gentlewave – Tambourine Ridge
He made a very pleasing debut in a Carlisle bumper in November when third and I was so impressed I subsequently acquired the winner Barnabas Collins. He made his hurdling debut at Bangor in November where he was second to a more experienced individual, and again ran well when second at Catterick this week. He is still a young, immature horse but looks to have potential and is one we like.

Blakeney Point
7 b g Sir Percy – Cartoon
He came to us off the Flat and won at Bangor in July in good style, but things have not been straightforward since. He had some decent Flat form (rated 94) and his owner was keen to go to York’s Ebor meeting, but things did not work out and it took a bit of tidying up after that as he lost his way. However, he had his wind operated on in October and his latest run at Catterick was much more like it when second over 2m4f. What pleased me there was how he toughed it out while shouldering a penalty. I think he possibly needs nicer ground, although he does have form on slow. We could go to Musselburgh on New Year’s Day for the Hogmaneigh Handicap Hurdle next.

Bob’s Bar
4 b g Darsi – Kilcoltrim Society
I bought him earlier this month after an eyecatching third in a point-to-point. To give you an idea of the impression the runners created, the winner Classic Getaway has since made 570,000gns at the Goffs sale. Bobs Bar was nine and a half lengths back in third and he looked quite immature. He is a fine big specimen and it will be a few weeks before we get him out. Whether that is in a bumper or over hurdles I am not sure. He is a real dark horse and looks to have a nice future.

Chti Balko
8 br g Balko – Ina Scoop
It was great to see him win so easily recently when coming home by 26 lengths at Haydock over 2m on heavy ground. It was his third win at the track, a venue he loves and I would run him there all the time if there were enough races. I genuinely believe he is a 10lb better horse around there. He is such a genuine and consistent horse that the handicapper does not really have the opportunity to help him. There are very few opportunities back at Haydock in the short term – there is a 135 handicap at the next meeting which he cannot go for, and the Champion Hurdle Trial, so options are limited, but we will find him something.