Ayr victory ups Ballabriggs' odds for Grand National
Ballabriggs, the favourite for the John Smith’s Grand National, has boosted his prospects for the world’s greatest jump race by winning a novice hurdle at Ayr in an impressive show of agility.
The ten-year-old colt, trained by Donald McCain, had a similar win at Wincanton three weeks ago. Having his odds reevaluated from 20-1 to 16-1, he will now return to jumping fences for training before the Grand National. Ballabriggs, sent off to the contest
with the odds of 11-10, overtook both Yes Tom and Kings Grey.
Mick Meagher, the racing manager for Ballabriggs’ owner Trevor Hemmings, was delighted with the performance. He said that the horse performed rather well over hurdles and his speed was at par with the younger colts.
Though jockey Maguire was pretty satisfied with the way the horse performed, Meagher believes Ballabriggs must practice before heading off to the Grand National. For that, Meagher has decided that he will have the colt perform in one more run over fences.
The practice run will either be the Kelso Chase or the Grimthorpe Chase, both schedules for 5 March. Ballabriggs will then go to Aintree for the Grand National.
The offspring of leading jump sire Presenting, Ballabriggs earned quite a name for himself by becoming the unbeaten winner over fences last year. He also won the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.
If Ballabriggs bags the Grand National, he will be the first winner of the race for trainer Donald McCain, whose father Ginger McCain is known for winning the Grand National thrice with horse Red Rum and once with Amberleigh House.
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