No Cheltenham day out for Up and Go

McCain, who is due to saddle two runners today at the West Yorkshire track, does not want to over-exert the promising five-year-old in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle in which the Willie Mullins-trained Pont Alexandre is a hot favourite.

A faller on his hurdling debut at Sandown in December, Up And Go cruised to victory at Wetherby under a confident Jason Maguire before the big freeze decimated racing’s fixture list – and then stepped up in grade to beat dual Cesarewitch winner Aaim To Prosper four days ago.

Bookmakers made him around a 14-1 chance for the Neptune, but McCain said: “I’ve taken him out now so we are not tempted to run.

“It was a smashing performance at the weekend, but he’s still only five and we want to take our time with him.

“We may go to Aintree, I’m not sure yet, but he’ll be an even better chaser.

“The attitude he showed at the weekend is what we saw in his point-to-points, so it bodes well. We saw it a bit at Wetherby and even more so at Ascot.”

McCain also reported that 2011 Champion Hurdle runner-up Peddlers Cross – owned, like Up And Go, by Tim Leslie – came out of last Wednesday’s comeback race at Musselburgh in good shape and is on course for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

As for today’s action at Wetherby, McCain saddles Deise Dynamo in the novice hurdle where John Ferguson’s Whispering Secret will be the one to beat.

The 2011 Grand National-winning trainer also saddles Diamond King in the ‘Newcomers’ National Hunt Flat Race where Mark Johnston, Middleham’s top Flat trainer, runs Willpower, the probable favourite, with Robert Thornton in the saddle.

Diamond King is owned by Diana Whateley whose Captain Chris ran a fine trial for the Cheltenham Gold Cup at Ascot on Saturday before blundering at the penultimate fence.

On the day when David Pipe showcases his Cheltenham-bound horses to the media, it is noteworthy that stable jockey Tom Scudamore makes the journey from Devon to ride No Secrets in the Yorkshire Post 30th May Ladies Evening Handicap Chase, the day’s £10,000 feature.

This select five-runner race, landed 12 months ago by Malcolm Jefferson’s Mac Aeda who went on to run with distinction at Haydock on Saturday, also includes Douglas Junior from Sue Smith’s in-form yard and the JP McManus-owned See U Bob, who will benefit enormously from the services of five-pound claimer Maurice Linehan.

Bingley-based Smith may hold a better chance in the opener, a conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle, when Coverholder will attempt to extend his winning sequence to four under Jonny England.

Meanwhile, the aforementioned Scudamore is a significant jockey booking for David Bridgwater’s Wyck Hill in the Racing Plus Chase at Kempton on Saturday in which the Venetia Williams-trained Katenko is a disappointing absentee.

Wyck Hill, a progressive horse held in the highest regard by a bullish Bridgwater, still holds entries in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and John Smith’s Grand National.

Kempton racegoers will also be treated to Nicky Henderson, Cheltenham’s all-time leading trainer, putting several of his Festival runners through their paces.

He confirmed that My Tent Or Yours will run in the William Hill Supreme Novices’ Hurdle after connections appeared to rule out an audacious tilt at the Stan James Champion Hurdle following six-year-old’s effortless victory in Newbury’s Betfair Hurdle.

Even though Finian’s Rainbow floundered in soft ground at Ascot on Saturday, Henderson said that he will defend his crown in the Queen Mother Champion Chase – despite the ominous presence in the field of his superstar stablemate Sprinter Sacre.