Overturn Lands Second Big Flat Handicap for McCain

The growing and glowing reputation of Grand National winning trainer Donald McCain was further enhanced on the opening day of Chester’s May meeting when his very versatile Overturn landed the Chester Cup, the horse’s second big flat handicap success within 12 months.

Sent off as the 11/2 favourite from the favoured inside number one stall, Overturn took up the running from the start and was never headed during the 2 mile 2½ furlong race, winning in the end by just under two lengths from the Barry Hills trained, Tastahill. It was the second season running that an established National Hunt trainer has saddled the winner of the race, David Pipe achieved the feat 12 months ago with Mamlook, where he too held off the challenge of the seemingly unlucky Tastahill.

For Overturn it is another successful chapter in a career that has seen him win the Northumberland Plate on the flat last year. He followed that up with an outstanding performance to win the prestigious Galway Hurdle at the Galway Festival. He was second behind the then Champion Hurdler, Binocular, in the Grade One Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park in January and put up a decent performance to finish seventh, behind Hurricane Fly in this year’s Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March. He was also third in the Grade 2 Scottish Champion Hurdle last month at Ayr, a race he won 12 months previously.

The biggest surprise in yesterday’s race was the simple fact that at no time in the race were any of his rivals in contention, Tastahill did put an effort in at the end, but by then the race was over, earning jockey, Eddie Ahern plenty of plaudits for his brilliant ride. The jockey who is now freelance after parting company with the Ed Dunlop stable, will undoubtedly be in the minds of trainers, when it comes to booking big race jockey’s as the season progresses, he clearly is up there with the best of them.

As for Overturn, he will almost certainly be aimed once again at the Northumberland Plate and it is hoped that he will go back to Galway in July to retain his Galway Hurdle crown. McCain has also hinted that he may well be schooled over fences later in the summer with overall plan to take on a few novice chases when the new National Hunt season starts in the autumn.