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Ballabriggs
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Ballabriggs On Course for Second Crack at John Smith's Grand National 18/01/12
Trainer Donald McCain is hopeful that Ballabriggs can become only the eighth horse to win the John Smith’s Grand National on more than one occasion as the 11-year-old steps up his preparation for the world-famous chase at Aintree on Saturday, April 14.
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Trevor Hemmings’ chaser is set to have one or two starts ahead of this year’s John Smith’s Grand National, which carries record prize money of 975,000, as he aims to emulate the last horse to record back-to-back successes in the race, Red Rum (1973 & 1974), who was trained by Donald’s late father Ginger and gained a record-breaking third victory in 1977.
Speaking at a media day at Bankhouse Stables in Cheshire, which are full with 106 horses in training, McCain revealed: “We have gone very quietly with Ballabriggs so far this season. He’s just stepping back up into full work now with the view to having one or two runs before the 2012 John Smith’s Grand National close on Tuesday, January 31, (announced the following day - Wednesday, February 1) and changes to this year’s race conditions include the stipulation that horses entered must be aged seven or above and must have been placed first, second, third or fourth in a chase of three miles or more before March 20, 2012.
Weights for the 2012 John Smith’s Grand National will be announced on Tuesday, February 14.
BALLABRIGGS (IRE) FACTFILE
THE 2011 JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL WINNER
b g Presenting - Papoose (IRE) (Little Bighorn)
Age: 11
Form: 50220/6S22F212/0/3111/1121-
Owner: Trevor Hemmings
Trainer: Donald McCain
Breeder: Mrs S Jackson
Jockey: Jason Maguire
Ballabriggs was born in Ireland on April 27, 2001. John Brady paid IR12,000 for him as a foal at Ireland’s Goffs Sale in December, 2001, and sold the youngster on to Highflyer Bloodstock, acting for owner Trevor Hemmings, for 32,000 euros at Tattersalls Ireland the following November. Ballabriggs was allowed to develop in his own time at two of Hemmings’ studs, firstly at Monymusk Stud in Ireland and then at Gleadhill House Stud near Chorley in Lancashire. Ballabriggs was named after a property on Hemmings’ estate in the Isle of Man. The horse went into training with Ginger McCain in Cheshire at the end of 2005 and by the time Ballabriggs made a low-key racecourse debut Donald McCain had taken over responsibility for the licence from his father. That first run resulted in fifth place in a Uttoxeter bumper in May, 2006. He finished 10th of 14 on his hurdle bow at the same course that December. The big gelding by Presenting contested four more hurdle races before switching to fences, finishing runner-up twice over two and a half miles, but failing to win. He slipped up on a bend on his first chase start at Bangor in December, 2007, and subsequently posted three seconds at around two and a half miles plus a first fence fall before breaking his duck in an extended three-mile beginners’ chase on soft ground at Bangor in March, 2008. He enjoyed another runner-up finish in a valuable novices handicap chase at Ayr in April that year, behind subsequent Scottish Grand National hero Merigo. After a below-par effort in a handicap chase on his reappearance at Haydock in November, 2008, when heavily eased down Ballabriggs was off the course for over a year until returning with a third in a handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter in December, 2009. He then proceeded to string together three straight wins over fences in handicap chases. There were easy triumphs at Catterick (January 22, 2010) and Ayr (February 13, 2010) followed by a much tougher task in the Hedgehunter in 2005. Ballabriggs has not seen a racecourse since that memorable success, but trainer Donald McCain is hoping to run him in the Premier Chase at Kelso again before attempting a repeat success in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree.
Race Record: Starts: 22; Wins: 7; 2nd; 7; 3rd: 1; Win & Place Prize Money: 608,115
