Donald McCain’s 10-year-old Weird Al, who could only finish thirteenth of eighteen, beaten 60 lengths, behind Storm Survivor in the John Smith’s Summer Cup at Uttoexeter last Sunday, has been retired. The Accordion gelding started last season promisingly enough, finishing fourth, beaten 7 lengths, behind Silviniaco Conti in the Betfair Chase at Haydock, but failed to complete the course on his next three starts.
A fragile sort, who never raced more than four times in a season, Weird Al nevertheless won six of his seventeen starts under National Hunt rules, including the Toytown Novices’ Chase and the Charlie Hall Chase, both over 3 miles 1 furlong at Wetherby.
The Cholmondeley trainer tweeted, “After talks it has been decided that Weird Al is to be retired. Maybe never quite saw the very best of him, but some great days.”
