Monday, 19 September 2011

Ginger McCain's Grand National triumphs

 

Red Rum, Grand National 1973 On fast ground, Red Rum clawed back Crisp's massive lead to smash the record time for the world's greatest steeplechase by some 19 seconds. His win, widely considered to be one of the race's greatest, restored prestige to the National after sceptics had claimed the race had gone too soft since the fences had been rebuilt. Watch YouTube Red Rum, Grand National 1974 "Liverpool now has an equine Bill Shankly to worship" was the opening to The Telegraph's report after the Southport duo won their second tilt at the National. With Brian Fletcher on board once again, the 7-2 favourite, carrying 12 stone, became the first winner of back-to-back Nationals since Reynoldstown in 1936. Watch YouTube Red Rum, Grand National 1977 With Red Rum runner up the previous two years - beaten by L'Escargot and Rag Trade - McCain swept to an unprecedented third win as the 12 -year-old won by 25 lengths, sending the 51,000 crowd into pandemonium. It was to be his last victory after the steeplechaser suffered a hairline fracture the day before the 1978 race. Watch YouTube Amberleigh House, Grand National 2004 After victory in 1977, McCain endured a barren spell of low finishes, unseated riders and fallers at Aintree. The winners' enclosure finally came into view in 2003 when Amberleigh House came third. A year later he was toasting success when Amberleigh - at the same age as Red Rum in '77 - won an emotional race for McCain. Sir Peter O'Sullevan, the BBC's legendary commentator, said of the win: "It was nice for Ginger to have the opportunity to show he wasn't just a one-horse trainer."

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