Donald McCain trainer of Cloudy Dream© Photo Healy Racing
Cloudy Dream is set to make his first start since joining Donald McCain in the Monet's Garden Old Roan Chase at Aintree on Sunday.
The Trevor Hemmings-owned eight-year-old was a high-class performer for the late Malcolm Jefferson and then his daughter Ruth in recent seasons, but is perhaps better known for his fine efforts in defeat rather than his victories.
The grey failed to add to his tally last term, but did finish a close second to Smad Place in this Grade Two contest a year ago and was also placed in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham, the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree, the Denman Chase at Newbury and the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Speaking to www.sportinglife.com, McCain said: "He's settled in great - absolutely fine.
"Every morning you see him he looks a real athlete and a high-class horse. It’s quite scary in a way, hoping you can do him justice because he’s been such a good horse for a number of years.
"He'll probably go to the Old Roan at Aintree on Sunday. There’s nothing to stop us doing that at the moment, and then I'll learn more about him when I start running him.
"We’ll start off at two and a half, and we would train a bit different to what Malcolm and Ruth had done, so there will be a little bit of trial and error and we’ll see.
"I tend to learn more about my horses when I start running them."
Cloudy Dream is one of 15 entries for the 80,000 pound contest.
Paul Nicholls has given the option to Frodon and Modus, while Tom George could saddle the admirable God's Own.
Other contenders include Peter Bowen’s Beggar’s Wish, the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained pair of Flying Angel and Templehills and Javert from Emma Lavelle’s yard.
