Donald McCain’s classy hurdler Maximilian will skip the Cheltenham Festival in favour of an Aintree outing.

Success continues to breed success for the Owners Group syndicate, who enjoyed their most successful weekend to date with five winners last week.

Five winners across the last weekend of January brought smiles all round for the Owners Group syndicate, who now have future festival options lined up for Stage Star, Maximilian and Hacker Des Places

Miranda is all set to step up in class for the Howden Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot next week.

Maximilian will put his unbeaten record on the line when he takes on five rivals in the Grade Two Ballymore Winter Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown on Friday, with trainer Donald McCain hoping the race has not come a week too soon.