Brilliant Ballabriggs!

Three Grand National Winners!  MCP & Myself with Ballabriggs' trainer, Donald McCain Jr

What an extraordinary week, culminating in the Grand National at Aintree on Saturday and a fantastic victory for the Donald McCain trained Ballabriggs, ridden by Jason Maguire. It is great for them both, as well as owner Trevor Hemmings, although I am especially pleased for Donald – I know what a relief it is to be able to say that he has won a Grand National like his father! I am pleased to say that despite a horrible looking fall for Or Noir de Somoza at Becher’s Brook on the first circuit, all three of our Grand National runners have come back safe and sound.

Comply Or Die was competing in his fourth Grand National having won the great race in 2008 and finished runner-up the following year. Unfortunately time seems to have caught up with the old boy and the decision has been made to retire him while he is still in one piece. He has been an amazing horse throughout his entire career, consistently competing at the highest level – as well as winning the National, he was also successful in the Eider Chase, the Grade 2 Rising Star’s Novices’ Chase, while he finished fourth in the SunAlliance Hurdle and runner-up in the SunAlliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. He is a real old pro who retires sound and well and I am pleased to say that he will spend the rest of his days with Timmy Murphy alongside the likes of Well Chief and Vodka Bleu.

Unfortunately two of the Grand National runners (Ornais and Dooneys Gate) were not so lucky and met with fatal falls, but while this is terribly sad (and my sympathy goes to the connections of those involved), I was disappointed to see the reaction to the race in the press. These incidents can happen at any time on any course (flat or jumps) and is regrettably the down-side of our sport, but those claiming that the Grand National causes carnage are misinformed.

An old favourite, Bonanza Boy sadly passed away on Sunday on George and Angie Malde’s farm on Exmoor at the age of thirty. He competed in the Grand National five times without anything untoward ever happening to him. Indeed, he won two Welsh National’s, an Ansells National (now the Midlands National) and Rehearsal Chase, as well as finishing placed in both the Stayers’ Hurdle and Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival. Undoubtedly though, his greatest effort was to carry me to victory in the Hunter Chase for the Ludlow Gold Cup in 1994 at the age of thirteen. He wasn’t the biggest, but he had a heart as big as himself, and he went on to enjoy a long and contented retirement and was quite the celebrity with the locals!

Tom Scudamore was in the wars at Aintree on Friday when coming to grief aboard the David Bridgwater trained The Giant Bolster. Unfortunately Tom dislocated his shoulder and was forced to sit out the Grand National. Following Tom's visit to the specialist on Monday, it transpired that the injury to his dislocated shoulder was worse than first feared and he will need to undergo keyhole surgery.  Sadly he is facing a spell of around four months on the sidelines...he will be very much missed around the yard and we all hope that he is on the mend soon.  In the meantime, we have an excellent team of in-house jockeys that we can call upon, including Cheltenham Festival winners Conor O'Farrell, Johnny Farrelly and Danny Cook (also currently out of action), while we will also use some of the other best jockeys that are available.

Barry Geraghty played super-sub that afternoon when taking the ride aboard Battle Group in the handicap hurdle. Barry gave him a peach of a ride to score by a comfortable five lengths, in the process recording his fifth (and by far the most important) success of the campaign. Battle Group has been called some unkind names (much the same as his half brother Upgrade was), but I would be glad to have a stable full like him! The owners, Jolly Boys Outing are a great bunch of lads from the Bristol area – they were certainly enjoying themselves the last time I saw them…I wonder if they have made it back from Liverpool yet?

Away from Aintree, E Street Boy duly completed the four-timer at Fontwell on Friday under conditional jockey Stephen Clements. Stephen gave him a canny ride and never panicked when it looked as though he may get boxed in turning into the straight. Indeed, he bought him widest of all to challenge at the last and won a shade comfortably. It was some performance to win four times in the space of twelve days and it will be interesting to see what the handicapper does with him now.

Looking forward, it is the Scottish Grand National meeting this weekend and I will be travelling up there. We have two entries for the big race at this stage, Midlands National winner Minella Four Star and Sona Sasta. Supporting the National, there is also the Scottish Champion Hurdle where we could be represented by Hunterview.

I would also like to send my best wishes to Peter Toole who took a horrible fall in the novices’ chase at Aintree on Saturday and Richard Hawkins who also took a nasty tumble at Taunton. Peter and Richard were both put into an induced comas and have since been kept stable on a life-support machines. I (and I am sure everyone in the racing industry) would like to wish them well for full and speedy recoveries.

Finally, I am pleased to team up withe Exeter Racecourse to bring you an exciting competition:

Win a Ladies’ Night Package for Two on Ladies’ Night at Exeter Racecourse featuring Tony Hadley Live after Racing on Tuesday, May 3

Tony Hadley, widely regarded as one of the finest vocal talents in pop history, is set to perform at Exeter Racecourse on May 3 at its most glamorous evening of the year and we have two Ladies’ Night Packages to give away for this fantastic night out.

The prize for two includes premier tickets, a one course meal in the Denman Room and a glass of wine or drink of choice, a racecard and a betting voucher.

Tony Hadley’s performance coincides with an evening of fashion, racing and champagne. As well as six exciting races and music, there are £1,000’s worth of prizes to win for the best dressed ladies including a romantic night for two, including dinner, breakfast and a bottle of champagne at Combe House, Gittisham, stunning jewellery from Siler and Sand and gifts from Leonard Coombe Master Saddlers and Country Life at Newton Abbot.

The evening is also the chance to mingle with the crowds, make new friends and relax in the racecourse’s gorgeous surroundings.

Tickets for the race night and concert are priced at £20 (Premier), £15 (Grandstand and Paddock) and £5 (children aged 17 and under) and are available now by contacting the ticket hotline on 0844 5793005 or by visiting www.exeter-racecourse.co.uk.

To enter our competition please answer the following question and email it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or send it on a postcard by April 23 to David Pipe Ladies’ Night Compeition, Exeter Racecourse, Kennford, Exeter EX6 7XS.

Which band was Tony Hadley in?

Don’t forget to include you name, address and contact details.