14/1 shot Ballabriggs came out ahead of the pack in the John Smith’s Grand National, with Oscar Time in second and Don’t Push It in third.
The Donald McCain-trained 10-year old led for the majority of the famed race at Aintree and held off a late challenge from Oscar Time, who was mounted by Sam Waley-Cohen, the amateur jockey who rode Long Run to the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month.
With Jason Maguire on the saddle, however, Ballabriggs held out to win by two and a quarter lengths, with Don’t Push It finishing behind Oscar Time in third in what was a spirited defence of last year’s crown with Tony McCoy on board.
It could have all been very different had Maguire not been given the all clear to race on Friday after a bad fall a day earlier, but despite a dislocated thumb and a damaged elbow, Maguire brushed off the pain to guide Ballabriggs to victory.
The victory was a historic one as trainer Donald McCain is the son of legendary trainer, Ginger McCain, who trained Red Rum, the winner of three Grand Nationals in the 1970s.
After the race, delighted owner Trevor Hemmings said: “It’s great. I had my heart in my mouth but it has all worked out. Congratulations to Donald and all the team for all the hard work they have done.”
Maguire, meanwhile, who was rendered virtually speechless after being caught up in the emotion of the occasion added: “This is crazy. I’ve got to thank Donald, Mr. Hemmings, my mother and father, everybody. It’s a dream come true.”
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