Welcome to our trainer profile of Donald McCain Jnr, one of the leading yards in the north of England.
We look at his current runners, big wins, history and more.
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Contents
Donald McCain Entries
Here are all the Donald McCain horses running today and future entries.
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Donald McCain Recent Form
Here are all the latest finishing positions for horses trained by Donald McCain.
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Key Stats – Donald McCain
- Name – Donald McCain
- Date of Birth – 13 June 1970
- Birthplace – Southport
- Racing Yard – Cholmondeley, Cheshire
- Big Wins: Aintree Grand National, David Nicholson Mares Hurdle, Neptune Investment Novices Hurdle, Supreme Novices Hurdle, Champion Hurdle Trial, Red Rum Handicap Chase, Rendlesham Hurdle, Aintree Foxhunters Chase, Fighting Fifth Hurdle (2), Mersey Novices Hurdle, Galway Hurdle, Chester Cup (2), Northumberland Plate (2) and many more top prizes over jumps and on the flat.
- Age – 53 years old
- Nationality – English
Donald McCain – Trainer Profile
Donald is the son of Trainer Ginger McCain, forever linked with record three-time Grand National winner Red Rum.
He rode fifty winners over jumps and worked for Luca Cumani and Oliver Sherwood.
Donald assisted his father to a fourth Grand National victory with Amberleigh House in 2004.
Two years later he took over the training licence and saddled his first winner with Bearaway at Newton Abbot on 8th June 2006. He has gone on to enjoy success at the highest level over jumps and in some of the season’s most competitive staying handicaps on the flat.
Most famously he emulated his late father by winning the 2011 Aintree Grand National with Ballabriggs.
Donald McCain – Key Trainer Stats
McCain saddled 40 winners in his first season in 2006-07 and increased his tally for the next five consecutive seasons. He recorded his first century of winners in a season in 2010-11 and saddled 153 winners the following year.
His tally dipped below a hundred each season, albeit narrowly in 2014-15 (99) and 2017-18 (98).
He then produced his highest winning return of 155 in 2021-22 with record earnings of more than £1.3 million.
Donald McCain Big Race Wins
The 2011 Grand National win of Ballabriggs naturally ranks top of Donald McCain’s big race victories. The victory brought great personal satisfaction, given his father’s incredible Grand National history.
McCain’s Cheltenham Festival victories include; Cinders And Ashes (Supreme), Peddlers Cross (Neptune) and Whiteoak (David Nicholson Mares Hurdle).
Besides Ballabriggs, McCain is probably best known for his skilful handling of the dual-purpose stayer Overturn. The popular gelding won 14 of his 42 races under rules. His big race wins include the Galway Hurdle, the Northumberland Plate, the Chester Cup and the Fighting Fifth Hurdle. He also finished runner-up in the Champion Hurdle, as did McCain’s Peddlers Cross.
McCain also trained Ile de Re to win both the Chester Cup and the Northumberland Plate in 2012.
Donald McCain – Most Famous Victories
Overturn’s most famous victory was probably his 2011 Chester Cup win. He was a well-backed 11-2 shot and made all the running in the hands of Eddie Ahern to beat Tastahil by a length and three-quarters.
Peddlers Cross ran in the same colours as Overturn and was a brilliant winner of the 2010 Neptune Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. He chased home Hurricane Fly in the 2011 Champion Hurdle.
Ballabriggs had been on many a shortlist for the 2011 Grand National after winning the Kim Muir at Cheltenham the previous season. He was a popular bet at 14-1 at Aintree where Jason Maguire rode him to a famous victory over Oscar Time and Don’t Push It. Ballabriggs ran in three subsequent Grand Nationals, finishing sixth in 2012.
Summary of Trainer Donald McCain
Donald McCain remains a major force among the British training ranks.
He has shown that he is a master of his trade with Aintree and Cheltenham glory and more big wins look certain to come his way.
