Three winners for McCain and Hughes as most southern raiders stay away

On a day on which 13 runners from the south stayed at home on account of bad travelling conditions it proved a fine afternoon for Donald McCain.

He had five of the 27 runners and won with three of them. Two were partnered by Brian Hughes, who also won on Tomngerry to bag his own hat-trick.

The trainer, who gave his Cheltenham hope Testify a spin before racing, said: "Although Wolverhampton is much nearer I wouldn't run my jumpers there.