The Donald McCain-trained Ballabriggs made a particularly impressive winning reappearance over hurdles at Wincanton on Saturday and has now advanced to dispute favouritism with some firms in the ante-post market for the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree in April, writes Elliot Slater. 

Not seen since winning the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup at the Cheltenham Festival last March, McCain’s 10-year-old has been specifically trained with a crack at the Aintree marathon in mind. Part of the plan has always been to restrict Ballabriggs to hurdles races until the publication of the Grand National weights in order to preserve his current handicap rating, and as such he made his seasonal reappearance at Wincanton in a two-and-three-quarter miles novices hurdle, a race in which the 10/3 chance took up the running at the last and showed no sign of ring-rustiness in running-on to score by two-and-three-quarter lengths from Ohio Gold. That said, the Grand National betting suggests he is heavily fancied.

A clearly delighted McCain commented that the win was “just the job” and will look for a similar event in the coming weeks to keep the Trevor Hemmings-owned gelding in tip-top shape. Ballabriggs improved out of all recognition last season after winning a Catterick handicap chase which he followed with a facile victory off an 11lb higher mark next time out at Ayr. Sent off a 9/1 shot for the Kim Muir, he appeared to have the race in safe keeping when drawing 10 lengths clear of his rivals approaching the last, but idled on the uphill run-in and eventually was all out to hold the enigmatic Faasel by just half-a-length. 

A sound jumper who has loads of stamina, Ballabriggs is as short as 16/1 favourite for Aintree with some firms, although 20/1 is still generally available for the race that the McCain family have all but made their own.