A Sad Day For Racing

Firstly, I couldn’t start this week without saying how saddened I was to learn of Donald “Ginger” McCain’s passing this morning.  Ginger was a legend of the training ranks and he has done so much to raise the profile of our sport, most notably through his expert handling of Red Rum and more recently Amberleigh House to win four Grand National’s.

Ginger retired around the same time as my father and he said of his old rival, “Ginger was an awesome individual and a great trainer.  He had a real love affair with Aintree, and the people and place seemed to love him too.  Carol and I would often see him at social events and we would have many long chats about our time as trainers.  I don’t think his Grand National record with Red Rum (three wins and two seconds) will ever be bettered, and I am delighted that he was able to see his son Donald Jnr emulate him by winning the great race with Ballabriggs this year.”

MCP with Ginger McCain shortly after Ballabriggs' 2011 Grand National victory for Donald Jnr

Racing will be much the poorer for Ginger’s passing and our thoughts are with his wife Beryl and children Donald and Joanne at this sad time.

It was great to finally have some jump racing again following a ten day break and even better to be back among the winners with a double at Uttoxeter.  American Art was completing a hat-trick of wins under an inspired ride from our young conditional jockey Conor O’Farrell.  At no point did American Art appear to be travelling that comfortably, but the young Irishman didn’t panic and managed to coax his partner home by a short head.

The quick fire double was completed when Teshali also scored a narrow victory in the following novices’ hurdle.  He too was on the receiving end of a great ride, this time by Timmy Murphy – Teshali led turning in and held on well to score by half a length in the process recording our twentieth jumps success of the campaign.

Looking ahead to this week we have exciting four year old ex-French chaser Take Over Sivola and Ladyvie entered at Perth on Thursday, while disqualified course “winner” Vertige Dore could go to Worcester on Friday.  Looking to the weekend there is only the one meeting at Market Rasen on Saturday and we made entries for three time winner Businessmoney Judi, Bathwick Man and Summer Plate winner Qulinton.  As usual, for the latest news on the stable runners take a look at Chester’s Daily Chat…