Malcolm Jefferson’s Mac Aeda bids for more glory at Wetherby races (From York Press)

Malcolm Jefferson’s Mac Aeda bids for more glory at Wetherby races

10:39am Saturday 14th January 2012 in Horse racing By Tom O'Ryan, Racing journalist

Mac Aeda, who bounced back to form at Wetherby’s Christmas meeting, is fancied to follow up on the same course this afternoon.

Trained at Norton by Malcolm Jefferson, who has always had a high opinion of him, Mac Aeda looked on excellent terms with himself when beating the well-regarded Trustan Times by five lengths on his latest appearance.

The North Yorkshire gelding turns out again under successful jockey Brian Hughes in the Curry & Comedy Night – Friday 17th February Novices’ Chase and is fancied to come out on top of previous winners Bunclody and Tiptoeaway.

John Quinn, one of Jefferson’s Norton neighbours, can also get his name on the Wetherby scoreboard, courtesy of Distime in the Mirror Punters Club Handicap Hurdle.

Winner of a bumper on this course last winter, the Irish recruit has progressed over hurdles this season, finishing a good second to Berbatos at Aintree before going one better at Bangor.

Dean Pratt, who is attached to Quinn’s Highfield yard, and who is very good value for his 7lb claim, has the mount on Distime, who will take plenty of beating.

The £25,000 Ladies Day – 24th May Handicap Chase is the feature race on the seven-race card, and few would surely begrudge Woody Waller a winning turn.

Owned and trained by County Durham-based John Wade, Woody Waller finished second to Best Lover on this course on his reappearance and has since occupied the same position behind Storm Surge at Haydock. They were two creditable efforts and he deserves to make it third time lucky.

Also worth watching are Mick Easterby’s Catterick winner The Wayward Lord (12.40), who was unsuited by the testing ground at Bangor last time out, and Tim Easterby’s Border Reiver (3.30), who has gained all four of his career wins on this course.

At Kelso tomorrow, Crowning Jewel is a confident nap selection in the European Breeders’ Fund Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier).

Trained by Keith Reveley, the Carlisle bumper winner has run two sound races over hurdles since, at Newcastle and Catterick.

Both times he has looked to be crying out for a more searching test of stamina, which he has finally got tomorrow, as he steps up to two and three-quarter miles for the first time.

Reveley’s Dancing Art, who went down by only a short head to Transact at Newcastle on his latest outing, can complete a double for the Saltburn trainer in the Stark Main – UK’s Best Accountancy Practice 2011 Handicap Chase.

The Weatherman, winner of two of his four starts, including a bumper on this course last season, is a potentially useful horse. Donald McCain’s gelding can add to his tally in the opening Queens Head Hotel Novices’ Hurdle, while stable-mate Araucaria, a good second to Shadrack at Catterick last month, should also go well in the EBF/Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Mares’ Novices’ Chase.

In the closing Standard National Hunt Flat Race, make a note of Forward Flight, a promising second on his debut at Bangor.

Racing selections

Wetherby (today)

12.40 The Wayward Lord, 1.15 Mac Aeda, 1.50 Sustainability, 2.20 Woody Waller, 2.55 Distime, 3.30 Border Reiver, 4.00 Doyly Carte.

Today’s other meetings

Kempton, Lingfield and Warwick.

Kelso (tomorrow)

12.50 The Weatherman, 1.20 Araucaria, 1.50 Crowning Jewel (NAP), 2.20 Dancing Art, 2.50 Dundock, 3.20 Tears From Heaven, 3.50 Forward Flight.

Tomorrow’s other meeting

Kempton.