CLOUDY LANE is unlikely to run in next year’s John Smith’s Grand National as Donald McCain admitted he could be too high in the handicap to improve on his sixth-placed finish in Saturday’s race. However, the Cheshire-based trainer stated that his other runner in the Aintree showpiece, Idle Talk who was 14th of the 15 finishers, will definitely return to Merseyside in 12 months time. For now there is no fresh chapter in the McCain family’s National story in a record-breaking season for the Cholmondeley stable. But both horses were given a clean bill of health yesterday following their exertions in the 4m4f marathon. Despite holdings entries in the Coral Scottish Grand National a week on Saturday and the Betfred Gold Cup at Sandown at the end of the month, both are unlikely to run again this season. McCain was pleased with the efforts of 7-1 joint favourite Cloudy Lane, under Jason Maguire, and the Brian Harding-ridden Idle Talk in at least completing the course. McCain said: “They are both tired, but both are fine. There are no scratches or anything. I would imagine that would be the end for the season for them. Neither of them will go to Scotland. They have done their best.” Much had been made of Cloudy Lane being well-in at the weights, with Liverpool-born handicapper Phil Smith stating the Trevor Hemmings-owned eight-year-old may have been top weight had he compiled the list closer to Saturday’s race. But because the Cloudings gelding has moved up the handicap so much, a return for the National next year may be ruled out. McCain added: “I don’t know if Cloudy Lane would go there again just in the sense that unless the handicapper is going to be very kind he is going to have more weight next year. We will play that by ear and see how things go. He may have to go up in grade really. He is a grand little horse and has done nothing wrong really. I think yesterday, jumping those big fences has took the sting out of him. “After talking it over with Jason (Maguire) and Mr (Trevor) Hemmings, he's just not very big. “He has not been able to pick up like he would normally. He was close enough jumping the second last and the effort of jumping Aintree has taken its toll on him. Cloudy jumped great and we can have no complaints. He’s done us proud and jumped like a cat. I thought turning for home he might stay on and run a real big race, but he just emptied out after the last. He is still really only a youngster, he is only an eight-year-old, a second season novice and he has done me no harm. He has ran a very solid race.” But Idle Talk will have the National as his primary aim next year, after he completed the race following last year’s mishap when unseating at the 19th fence. He added: “Idle Talk will definitely go back next year. We will probably target it a bit more next year. With his problems he has had a long season and he probably left the Grand National in his run at Cheltenham. Idle Talk went round well, but he’s had a lot of big races this year and we might have gone once too often. He jumped great and he has run a big race. “Brian (Harding) thought he was going to run a huge race crossing the Canal Turn, but he has just not quite lasted home.” TODAY’S NAP: Northern Quest (4.30pm Kelso). | 
