McDonald flat out in his historic Gold quest

On Saturday, he aims to win almost as much in just over 60 seconds in the six-furlong Ayr Gold Cup on Fullandby, the Tim Etherington-trained sprinter he rode to win Saturday's Portland Handicap at Doncaster.

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National hero: McDonald with Ferdy Murphy

Winning Scotland's richest jump race was not enough to convince the 25-year-old that his future lay over jumps. McDonald suffered from a problem rarely seen in the Weighing Room — being too light to be taken seriously.

Victory in the richest sprint handicap in Europe — the totesport sponsored race carries a first prize of £75,000 — will more than justify his decision to commit himself to life on the level.

The sponsors make Fullandby a 12-1 shot. Favouritism at 8-1 is shared by Indian Trail, trained by four-time winner David Nicholls, and Knot In Wood, the Stewards' Cup third representing last year's winning trainer Richard Fahey.

Fullandby's Doncaster win was on fast ground. His record indicates he acts on a softer surface, something he may need to do with 35mm of rain falling on Ayr since Sunday and with an unsettled week forecast.

That is good news Fahey's well-backed Utmost Respect (cut to 10-1) but, at 51st in the race list, he is far from certain to make the 28-runner line-up.

McDonald, on 17 winners for the season after a 43-1 double at Musselburgh yesterday on Alan Swinbank's Kirkby's Treasure and Stevie Thunder, said: 'It could be a bit of an historic event on Saturday if I can add the Ayr Gold Cup to the Scottish National.

'Last Saturday's win has already put the icing on the cake after a good summer.

'I'm just too light to be riding over jumps. The owners won't put you up. It is all right at 10st 4lb but, when you are riding a horse that has got 11st 7lb, with me at my heaviest at 9st 2lb, it is a hell of a lot of lead for a horse to carry.'

At first, it was hard to sell McDonald to Flat trainers but Richard Hale, his agent, said a turning point was Swinbank's support.

McDonald added: 'Alan's backing and having horses like his to ride half swung my decision to commit to the Flat. If you can make a living on the Flat, it is more money and you can keep your collar bones intact! I love riding over the jumps but you have to think of the future.

'On the Flat you can keep going until you are 50 years old. Over jumps you are thinking of getting out at 31 or 32.'

Fullandby's chances have been helped with Stewards' Cup winner Zidane, a 12-1 ante-post chance, being ruled out. Trainer James Fanshawe said: 'He suffered a deep cut in the Stewards' Cup which has taken time to heal. He is being aimed at the Diadem Stakes at Ascot on September 30.'