12.04.11 - THE GRAND NATIONAL

John Smiths Grand National success for Hemmings

JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL DAY

RACENEWS RACECOURSE SERVICE

AINTREE, SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2011

Race 5 - John Smith’s Grand National - Initial Winning Quotes

 BALLABRIGGS HANDS HEMMINGS SECOND JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL SUCCESS       You have to be very lucky to win one John Smith’s Grand National, but owner Trevor Hemmings, who won with Hedgehunter 2005, was convinced that he was dreaming as Ballabriggs gave him a second victory in the world’s greatest steeplechase, outrunning the equally brave Oscar Time by two and a quarter lengths.

 Hemmings said of the 14/1 winner: “Last time I was totally shocked, but, though I was with it this time, I still felt that it wasn’t really happening.

“From the last fence everyone kept telling me that I was going to win, but I had to turn away. I just could not look.

 “Footballers dream of scoring a goal at Wembley and cricketers hitting a boundary at Lords, but this race is the ultimate in horseracing and I will never grow tired of watching the video.

 "You can’t do anymore than have a horse as good as that and a jockey as good as that. It’s happened to me once before with Hedgehunter and Ruby Walsh but I am in a position this time to be part of it.

 "I was stunned last time, rightfully so, because nobody is entitled to that trophy. I was in the old stand in ‘05 and now I am in the new stand for ’11 - it’s beautiful. You can’t describe the feeling - it’s incredible."

Donald McCain, celebrating his first triumph in the race which his father Ginger has made his own - three wins for the legendary Red Rum (1973, 1974 and 1977) and one for Amberleigh House (2004) - said: “Amazing, simply amazing. We always felt that Ballabriggs was the right type for this race and everything has gone so smoothly in his preparation. His recent race at Kelso put him spot on for this and we’ll have the mother and father of parties when we get home.

"It’s just incredible, isn’t it? Supporters like Mr Hemmings mean everything and Aintree means as much to him as us. We owe Jason one - he was loyal to us when he lost out on Silver Birch.

"We have always genuinely thought that this might be an Aintree horse and you only have to see the way that he took to the place today to see what he has done.

"Horses are easy to train but everything has gone so smoothly all year - the prep at Kelso was grand - and he is just an absolute joy to deal with. It’s easy to say that he has won a Grand National but he is an absolute pleasure to deal with.

"It’s hot out there and he wasn’t supposed to hit the front until the elbow. He has been up there all of the way and has jumped his way there, he travelled great and he has just got tired. He got tired at Cheltenham and he gives everything - he doesn’t hold anything back - and he is coming round now fine. He is just very tired.

“I was concerned when Ballabriggs pulled up (after the line), but it is very hot out there and he was tired. He is a horse who does not save anything - he gives everything and is an absolute joy to train. You couldn’t find a nicer racehorse.”

Successful jockey Jason Maguire said: "The trainer said to try and be in the first 10 in case I frightened myself and ended up with a lot of ground to make up but he has half run away with me for the first mile - he was just jumping fence to fence.

"Turning in the first time, I just thought that I would just try and get him to the front and relax him - keep getting a stride into him - and every time that he jumped, he just did enough and he has got the trip because of that.

"There was a bit of question mark whether he would get the trip but, fair play to Donald - he has done a brilliant job.

 "I haven’t a clue what this is like - I don’t know what I feel - I am just overwhelmed but I am sure that it will sink in later.

"I think that it was Robbie Power was on my outside and I was just trying to keep my eye on the fences but you see the orange boards two or three fences ahead. I was just trying to see what angle I was going to take."

 Race 5 - John Smith’s Grand National - More Winning Quotes

 “IT MUST BE IN THE GENES” -  HEMMINGS

 The McCain family are as much a part of Aintree as Becher’s Brook, and Trevor Hemmings, celebrating his second John Smith’s Grand National success with Ballabriggs, following Hedgehunter in 2005, reckons that “it is in the genes”.

 He said: “Donald has done a brilliant job with Ballabriggs, and he clearly learned plenty from Ginger as they now have five National trophies on their mantlepiece.

 “I was confused when Hedgehunter won, and I was not ready for it. Don’t get me wrong, I loved every minute of it, but I only half got it.

 “In contrast, today I lived every second of it, and, though I have been kicked, pushed and trodden on with everyone wanting to congratulate me, I absolutely loved it.

 “I never thought that I had won my National and that a second one would not come. I had faith in Ballabriggs, and Donald has trained him brilliantly, bringing him along gradually, and he peaked just when we wanted him.

 “My only worry was that something might bring us down or we’d get involved in traffic problems, but Jason (Maguire) has ridden a brilliant race, though if he had listened to Donald he would not have won.

 “Donald told Jason to hang on to the elbow and not to let him go earlier as there was some doubt whether Ballabriggs would stay the trip. So when Jason pulled the trigger early, Donald shouted in my ear ‘he’s let him go, he’s let him go’.

 “I watched the race on the big screen in the paddock, so that I would be nice and close to collect the trophy if the impossible happened.

 “Now the dream has become reality we can start planning a party. We will have three, one in Ireland, where Ballabriggs started his career, one in Cheshire, where Donald trains, and one in the Isle of Man with the family.”

 Fifth race - The John Smith’s Grand National  - Runner-up quotes

 ‘PHENOMENAL’ SEASON CONTINUES FOR WALEY-COHENS AS OSCAR TIME BAGS RUNNER-UP FINISH

 This season he’s won the King George V! Chase and the Cheltenham Gold Cup and amateur rider Sam Waley-Cohen came very close to achieving a third major race success when he and Oscar Time finished second by two and a quarter lengths to Ballabriggs in the John Smith’s Grand National.

 His proud father Robert Waley-Cohen, who part-owns Oscar Time, said: “That was a fantastic ride; right place, right time, he came with a run at the right moment but there was just one too good. It was a fabulous race, I couldn’t have enjoyed it more - well only if we’d won but that was great!

 “There’s always a great story in the National and I’m thrilled for the winner.”

 Former BHA chairman Sir Martin Broughton, who co-owns Oscar Time with his brother Steve and Waley-Cohen, said: “Sam gave him a brilliant ride. We couldn’t have asked for more.

 “Just as they came up to the elbow I thought he might just get there - he seemed to be closing in but Ballabriggs just pulled away again.”

 Trainer Martin Lynch, who was saddling his first runner in the John Smith’s Grand National, was also delighted with his charge’s efforts. He said: “I’m thrilled to have him back in one piece. It was a great race. We were just beaten by a better horse.

 “He got a little bit close to the second last but otherwise it was a perfect round. He didn’t put a foot wrong and neither did Sam. Maybe next year.

 “If he’s in one piece it would be lovely to bring him back. We’ve seen he acts round here and  he really took to the fences. There’s a tinge of disappointment to be second but that’s just me being competitive.”

 Rider Sam Waley-Cohen said: “It’s been a phenomenal season and it’s an honour to be riding in such big races.

“The plan was to come with a smooth run through the race. He has a huge jump and I tried to just get him popping, trying to save ground.”

 He added: “He gave me a phenomenal ride. The Grand National is a race where if your horse takes to the fences he gives you the best ten minutes of your life.”