Ballabriggs to Return in Becher Chase
11/16/2012 - Trainer, Donald McCain,
has confirmed that his tremendously popular 2011 John Smith’s Grand National
winner, Ballabriggs, will make his seasonal reappearance back at the scene
of his greatest triumph when contesting the Becher Chase at the Liverpool
track on December 8, writes Elliot Slater.
Now approaching the veteran stage of
his career, the 11-year-old famously beat Oscar Time to land a big gamble in
the ‘world’s greatest steeplechase’.
He won the race for the first time
for his handler, whose late father, ‘Ginger’, had become forever associated
with the marathon event through his exploits with the three-time winner, Red
Rum, in the 1970’s, and decades later with Amberleigh House in 2004.
Last spring, Ballabriggs was fancied
in the
Betfair horse racing
news to put up a bold show in the defence of his crown and ran very
well off a 10lb higher mark, getting outpaced on the second circuit before
keeping on steadily from the second last to eventually finish sixth behind
the last-gasp winner, Neptunes Collonges
Lightly raced these days, the gelded
son of Presenting is clearly at his best over the awesome Aintree fences and
Donald McCain reports his beloved charge to have been shaping well in
training ahead of his return to the fray next month.
McCain also confirmed that his
high-class Cinders And Ashes, winner of last season’s William Hill Supreme
Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and already a leading fancy for
the Champion Hurdle back at Cheltenham in March, will make his seasonal
return at Newcastle seven days before Ballabriggs returns to the fray.
He will race in the Grade 1 Fighting
Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle, a contest that is seen as a key early trial for
horses with aspirations to reach the top of the hurdling tree.
A horse with limitless potential,
McCain is convinced Cinders And Ashes will be a key player in two-mile
hurdles division this season.
Don’t forget: if you’re looking for
a horse to punt on this festive season, visit the
King George VI chase betting page for the latest from Kempton.