What keeps the story interesting is the training operation behind it. Donald McCain's yard in Cholmondeley, Cheshire, is one of the most productive around right now — 55 winners already this season is a serious number, and a trainer running horses at that volume and success rate does not keep a five-year-old in the string without good reason. McCain is not in the business of running horses for the sake of it, so the fact that Caspada keeps getting a chance suggests the team believes there is a performance worth waiting for.
The recent form reads 2-8-6-10-4 going back through the last five runs, which tells a mixed story. That second place stands out as the high point, but the runs either side of it have been modest, and a tenth-place finish is hard to explain away. The most recent run — just yesterday — ended in fourth, which at least suggests improvement on some of those middle efforts. Whether that is the start of a turn in form or just one of those days when everything clicked slightly better than usual, only the next run will tell. Caspada is clearly still being tested to find its level, and at five years old, there is time — but not unlimited time — to find it.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedgefield Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 5 Dec | 0% |
| Newcastle Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 15 Jan | 0% |
| Carlisle Undulating |
1 | 1 other | 22 Mar | 0% |
| Hexham Undulating |
1 | 1 other | 13 Apr | 0% |
| Chepstow Galloping |
1 | 1 second | 24 Apr | 0% |