A small but perfectly formed training outfit from Gloucestershire has quietly been making ripples, bordering on waves, with its horses in recent weeks – and there is plenty to look forward to for the rest of the season too.
David Killahena and Graeme McPherson, who hold a joint licence to train at Stow-on-the Wold, sent just one horse to the Cheltenham Festival earlier this month and Yellow Car ran a cracker to finish fourth in the Grade 1, 20-runner Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle over three miles.
‘I bought him as a cheap and cheerful three-year-old to have a bit of fun with and for two years he showed nothing at home,’ McPherson told me. ‘But then I ran him in a point to point and the jockey got off and said, “He’s all right”. He still shows us nothing at home because he saves it for the track.’
This season Yellow Car has won twice, including a Grade 2 novices’ hurdle at Doncaster, before running his big race at the Festival this month in the colours of former England football manager Harry Redknapp, who now jointly owns the horse with McPherson.
‘We were all absolutely thrilled with his run,’ McPherson said. He is also delighted with the form of the yard: three winners from four runners over the past 14 days for a strike rate of 75 per cent. The only loser over the past fortnight was… Yellow Car’s splendid effort.
Yellow Car will not run again this season as he prefers soft ground and has been ‘on the go’ for a year but one horse from the stable that will be out again soon is MARBLE SANDS when he runs over the Aintree brush fences in the Randox Supporting Prostate Cancer UK Topham Handicap Chase a week today (4 April).
McPherson and Killahena are in their first full season training together after joining forces midway through 2023-4 jump season. McPherson says, rather modestly, that his training partner is the ‘hands-on talent’ and he prefers to remain in the background dealing with racing planning for the 40 horses in the yard.
Marble Sands, a nine-year-old grey gelding who prefers decent ground, has been aimed at the Topham for some time and will be looking for his fourth win over chases. He’s a sound jumper and this trip should be perfect for him, says his joint handler. His official rating of 143 makes him well handicapped too.
In short, he ticks a lot of the right boxes for his in-form yard and so expect a big run. Back him 1 point each way at 20-1, those odds being offered by almost every bookie in the country, all paying four places.
I make no excuses for returning to the subject of the Randox Grand National in eight days’ time because trainer Nicky Henderson’s novice chaser HYLAND is now going to scrape into the race after the defection of two more horses in the past few days.
Hyland will be Henderson’s 44th runner in the National and it is one of the few big races missing from his glittering CV. His first runner, Zongalero, fared best of all those runners, being a close second way back in 1979. The next 42 runners all failed to land the prize although The Tsarevich was also second in the race for Henderson in 1987.
The key to Hyland, a seven-year-old grey gelding, running well is good ground so the fine forecast for the next week or so will be just what he needs, even though the turf will almost certainly be watered to ensure a safe ‘good to soft’ terrain for the big day.
Hyland looks an out-and-out stayer and I loved the way he powered 15 lengths clear of his field in the final furlong over a three-mile trip at Cheltenham in October, following up over the same course and distance a month later.
With Henderson being bullish about Hyland’s chances, I can’t believe he will go off at 25-1 in just over a week’s time so take that price now with bet365, paying five places. There are certain to be plenty of tears in the winner’s enclosure if Henderson finally wins the National after nearly half a century of trying.
I am aware Hyland is my third selection in the race but, at odds of 33-1, 33-1 and now 25-1, I only need one of my selections placed to show a slight profit, or be quits in the case of Hyland. That’s not guaranteed, of course, in a race as open at the National but here’s hoping. All three horses have a ‘shout’ of winning too.
As usual at this time of the year, I am happy to watch and enjoy the start of the Flat season at Doncaster this weekend with no financial interest in affairs on the track. Early season flat form is too difficult for me to fathom out.
Last week: – 2.35 points
1 point each way Norn Iron at 5-1 for the Get Best Odds Guaranteed At BetVictor Novices’ Handicap Hurdle, paying 1/5 odds, 4 places. 2nd but with a Rule 4 35p in the £ deduction. –0.35 points.
1 point each way Jasmine Bliss at 11/2 for the BetVictor British EBF National Hunt Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, paying 1/5 odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
Pending:
1 point each way Marble Sands at 20-1 for the Topham Chase, paying 1/4 odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Kandoo Kid at 33-1 for the Grand National, paying 1/4 odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Monbeg Genius at 33-1 for the Grand National, paying 1/5 odds, 5 places.
1 point each way Hyland at 25-1 for the Grand National, paying 1/5 odds, 5 places.
2024-5 jump season running total: – 35.21 points.
2024 flat season: + 41.4 points on all tips.
2023-4 jump season: + 42.01 points on all tips.
2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips.
2022-3 jump season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
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