Mr McLoughlan could hardly have made a better first impression for his new owners.
The six-year-old was sent off the 13/8 favourite and justified that support in convincing style, travelling strongly through the race before taking over before the final hurdle and pulling away on the run-in.
For a horse bought during the summer with valuable handicap races in mind, it was just about the best possible start.
A New Horse, A New Trainer and an Immediate Win
Mr McLoughlan was bought for 60,000 guineas at the Doncaster Horses-in-Training Sale earlier this year, with RaceShare putting together a new 100-share syndicate around him.
He was moved into the care of Adrian Keatley, who has built a reputation for improving horses after they join his yard.
The early signs were encouraging before Hexham. RaceShare had already spoken positively about how well Mr McLoughlan had settled in, while his previous run in the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock was thought to be better than the bare result suggested.
He finished sixth there, beaten around seven lengths, but had raced too freely and gone much too hard in front.
At Hexham, things were very different.
Brian Hughes was able to settle him behind the leaders rather than asking him to force the pace, and Mr McLoughlan looked comfortable throughout.
He moved into contention three hurdles from home, travelled better than his rivals approaching the last and then went clear after landing.
The winning margin was two and a quarter lengths over Moveit Like Minnie, with Two Auld Pals back in third.
It was a performance that looked controlled rather than desperate, which is probably exactly what connections wanted to see on his first run after changing yards.
The 60,000 Guineas Gamble Starts Well
Buying a horse already in training is always a slightly different proposition from buying a yearling or unraced youngster.
There is more evidence to work with.
You know what the horse has already done, you have a handicap mark to assess and you can try to decide whether a change of trainer or race programme might bring improvement.
RaceShare clearly believed that was possible with Mr McLoughlan.
Bloodstock investor Patrick Veitch was involved in buying him and was very positive about the horse after the sale, describing him as particularly well handicapped and one of the standout purchases available.
That does not guarantee anything once a horse gets back onto the racecourse, of course.
But winning first time out does make the original decision look rather good.
Mr McLoughlan was running from an official mark of 118 at Hexham, so the handicapper may now have something to say before his next race.
That will make the next step particularly interesting.
Could Cheltenham Be Next?
Before the Hexham race, RaceShare had already mentioned the Cheltenham October Meeting as a possible target.
Friday’s win will surely make that idea even more tempting.
Cheltenham would represent a bigger test, but Mr McLoughlan has already raced there before and has enough experience over hurdles to cope with a stronger handicap.
More importantly, Hexham suggested that there may still be improvement to come under Keatley.
He is only six and did not begin racing until relatively late, so there is no reason to think his best days must already be behind him.
There is also the possibility of chasing further down the line.
For now, though, the hurdle campaign looks more than interesting enough.
A Nice Way to Start for the Owners
The result also shows the attraction of buying into a horse who already has form in the book.
RaceShare’s Mr McLoughlan syndicate is limited to 100 shares, meaning the ownership group is much smaller than some of the microshare schemes where thousands of people can be involved in one horse.
RaceShare currently lists shares at £850, with monthly fees on top.
That is obviously a very different price point from a £50 or £70 microshare, but the aim is also different. Owners have a larger percentage interest, stronger chances of racecourse badges and guaranteed access to stable visits.
When the horse wins on his first appearance for the syndicate, the appeal becomes very easy to understand.
Nobody buying into a racehorse can expect an instant return. Most owners will experience plenty of defeats, frustrating runs and abandoned plans along the way.
But every now and again it works exactly as hoped.
For his RaceShare owners, that is a fairly strong opening chapter.
And if Hexham really was only the start, the next few months could be a lot of fun.
