past winners

grand national 2005 / news/

Happy House Connections
05/03/05
Connections of Amberleigh House were more than satisfied with his performance in the totescoop6 Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster on Saturday 5th March as he continued his build-up towards the John Smith's Grand National.

Ginger McCain's evergreen 13-year-old did not have the speed to match winner Run For Paddy, who just outfought Lou Du Moulin Mas to land the £17,030 first prize.

But he stayed on up the straight without being given a seriously hard time to take seventh place of the eight finishers.

Last year's Aintree hero was unfancied in the betting ring, starting at 20-1, and was tackling an inadequate three-mile trip in a race in which he finished fifth last year.

Things were happening a bit quickly over the first couple of fences, but he was soon travelling well under new rider Jason Maguire, deputising for the injured Graham Lee.

He was well in contention as they came towards the home straight, but just stayed on before being eased approaching the line.

"That was grand," said McCain's son and assistant, Donald. "Jason was more than happy with him too, and said that if he had been really hard on him he could have finished a little closer. But the ground was quick enough out there.

"He was pretty straight and was almost too careful when he brushed through a couple, but he is almost too good a jumper for this track.

"He will now go back home for a few days off. But he will soon be back galloping and will have a racecourse gallop at Bangor on the Saturday before Aintree."

McCain dreaming of another House party
17/11/04
Aintree legend Ginger McCain is confident age will prove no barrier to success when Amberleigh House bids to become only the third 'teenager' in history to win the world's most famous jumps race next April.

Last season's Grand National winner will have jumped more of the famous fences than any horse before him if he puts in a clear round in Sunday's totesport Becher Chase.

Twelve months ago, Amberleigh House finished second to Clan Royal in this race before reversing placings with Jonjo O'Neill's charge in the National.

Win or lose, McCain is already looking towards next year's John Smith's-sponsored National as he bids to become the most successful trainer in the race's history by winning it for the fifth time.

Amberleigh House was paraded to the media on Tuesday at McCain's Cheshire stables as full details of the new sponsorship contract with John Smith's were confirmed by Aintree.

He looked in great form, and buoyed by a solid recent effort at Wetherby, McCain is looking for a big run this weekend.

" He was very disappointing over hurdles at Haydock on his first run of the season, but I just don't think he's got a lot of enthusiasm for hurdles these days as he's such an old pro," he said.

" I tried to look for the better points to take from his run but I just couldn't see them, so it was a great relief when he ran a much better race at Wetherby. He was staying on really well over a trip that was on the short side.

" I'm not bothered if he doesn't win on Sunday. I'd just like him to run a good race so that we can put him on ice for the big race.

" I won't run him over hurdles again now but he will have one or two races to bring him back up to his peak for the National."