Up And Go and Clondaw Kaempfer could both be prepared for the Grand National meeting at Aintree after trainer Donald McCain elected to bypass the Cheltenham Festival with his two star novice hurdlers.

Uttoxeter bumper scorer Up And Go was thrown straight into a Grade Two at Sandown on his hurdling bow in early December and suffered a tired fall two flights from the finish.

The tumble clearly left no significant mark on the five-year-old as he has since dotted up at Wetherby and Ascot and McCain admits his charge may well have been Cheltenham-bound if he had done things differently earlier in the campaign.

"If I hadn't over-faced him at Sandown and got a couple of sensible runs in quietly and then gone to Ascot the other day, we possibly would have gone to Cheltenham, but I just feel we need a little lower profile with him now," said the trainer.

"I would think he'll go to Aintree. Whether that's two and a half or three miles, I don't quite know.

"He's going to be a better horse over a fence and Cheltenham has just come a few weeks too soon."

Snapped up for £130,000 after winning an Irish bumper last spring, Clondaw Kaempfer appeared a sound investment when winning his first two starts over hurdles at Aintree and Haydock.

He was pulled up after a bad mistake three flights from home in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury in late December, but McCain is looking forward to seeing him return at either Aintree or at the Punchestown Festival.

"He wasn't right after Newbury, but he's back cantering now," added the Bankhouse handler.

"It was nothing drastic, just a couple of bumps and bangs after that mistake at Newbury, so that was decision made for him (regarding Cheltenham). He'll go to either Aintree or Punchestown."

13 May 2013

Fabre confirms Ocovango for Epsom
Aspect on route to big things
Room at the top for Cityscape
Freedom steps into chasing ranks
Lucky thirteen in line for Lockinge
Galway beckons for Swinton hero
Sajjhaa set for late return
Cadeaux thriving in Singapore
Pink primed for Duke Of York
Liber takes aim at Musidora
Battle won for O'Brien
Pretending the real deal
Duntle back to winning ways
Classic glory for Flotilla
Style wins the day in Paris
Highclere double-handed for Dante
Cornerstone plans up in the air
Beckett planning Gesture workout

12 May 2013

No hurry for Jammy plans
Guest in hunt for more Ascot glory
Vow set for Goodwood return
Gold-en boy Anodin in Classic hunt
Buick aiming for French strike
Angel flies home to land Chartwell
Barizan bounces back in style
Queally lights up Ascot meeting
Ektihaam storms to Buckhounds win
Nevis takes depleted Trial contest
Hard-fought battle won at Haydock
Secret impresses in Oaks Trial
Ascot drama for Fanning

11 May 2013

Felix foot-perfect on fencing debut
Cavalryman leads Cup charge
Ramsa ready to stand Trial
Duntle out to dazzle in Amethyst
Swift return doesn't bother Moran
Garman gives Bolger hope
Henderson: Ground vital for Voice
McMahon sweet on Tart Ascot claims
Murphy to move to France
Athos flies to Ormonde glory
Dee day for impressive Magician
Kingdom confirmed for Queen Anne
Secret's out for Lingfield glory
Lambe expects good run from Hall
Marengo ready to do battle
Greatwood on trial at Lingfield
Barizan sneaks into Swinton
Jamesie gunning for Vic-tory

10 May 2013

Telescope focus is on Dante
Blinkers considered for Guarantee#
Bonfire camp bemoan Huxley flop
Moohaajim has six appeal
Ascot welcomes a couple of Guests