Ballabriggs plan Ballabriggs is about to have his work schedule stepped-up a gear in preparation for one or two outings before bidding for back-to-back successes in the John Smith's Grand National. The 11-year-old's trainer Donald McCain has pinpointed Kelso's Premier Chase on March 3 as Ballabriggs' last run before his April 14 date at Aintree, as it was ahead of his 2011 National triumph under Jason Maguire. But Haydock's Rendlesham Hurdle could precede that if McCain feels two runs are necessary for Ballabriggs to be at his absolute peak as he tries to become only the eighth horse in history to win the National on more than one occasion. "We are just at the stage when he's starting fast work again. We know him well, he's very exciting and of course the National is the biggest day of the year for us," said McCain. "Ballabriggs is the most gorgeous old-fashioned chaser you could possibly wish for, and we were lucky to find a route we could plan by going back to hurdling last season. "He'd strained a ligament in his back and was off for 12 months, he was very sore and it stopped him. "But now he's rated 150 over hurdles and is a 160-rated chaser so there's not many races you can go for. Ideally though, I would prefer two runs before he goes back to Aintree." McCain insists Kelso's extended two-mile-six-furlong contest is of paramount importance. He added: "We ran Cloudy Lane in it and Balla finished second in the race last season. Going back there is Plan A and that will be his final run before the National. "I don't know whether he will have another run before then. We'll just wait until we get a bit closer before deciding." The gelding carried 11st to his superb victory over Oscar Time last year and McCain realises he will probably be lumbered with second top weight for his repeat bid should Synchronised be entered. He said: "I would be fine with Ballabriggs being top weight. My father always told me that having top weight in the Grand National means you've got the best horse, and to just make sure that you get him spot-on for the big day. "He's just starting fast work this week." McCain vigorously defended the Aintree executive for its handling of the 2011 race. The track came in for criticism after the deaths of two horses in the race, as well as Maguire being banned for his use of the whip and the big-race finishers needing some swift cooling off after competing on an unseasonably hot day. However, McCain reiterated his view that no changes were necessary to the famous fences. He continued: "Ballabriggs looked a million dollars the morning after the National. He came out on the lawn and he looked fantastic, there wasn't a scratch on him. "In fact Amberleigh House (who was trained by McCain's father Ginger) was more tired than Ballabriggs when he was third in the race the year before he won it. "On the day, the Grand National runners had everything they needed. There were lines of water all the way down the track. "The bad publicity it got was a shame for Aintree because they are the most forward-thinking racecourse in the country. "There was oxygen on hand and when it was offered, you don't turn it down. Somewhere along the line you have to stand off and back what you do." Of the alterations that were subsequently made to some of the fences, McCain added: "I don't think the changes were needed but they were done. "I'm hoping we can draw a line in the sand and say 'that's the Grand National, now leave it alone, it's the greatest race in the world'." Altogether McCain will enter four horses in this year's race including Weird Al, who is to tackle the Cheltenham Gold Cup first. "Weird Al will get an entry (at Aintree)," confirmed McCain. "I've learnt a lot more about him with his two runs for me and he has done the job very well. "He's an easy horse to get fit and run fresh, so Plan A is Cheltenham and there is enough time after that to consider whether to run him in the National. "We felt he ran well in the Betfair Chase but we think he could be a little bit sharper than that. "I'm not going to say that he is going to win a Gold Cup, but you could certainly see him being in the money based on what he's done so far this season." Wymott could also represent McCain and Hemmings in the Grand National and McCain added: "Wymott ran a very nice race in the Hennessy Gold Cup and when pulled-up at Haydock, it was a bit of a non-entity. "He could never quite get going on his latest start at Sandown. It was a better run than Haydock but it still wasn't perfect. "There are one or two things we can do with him but I am almost certain he'll be given an entry for Aintree." Fabalu will also be entered and McCain said: "He's a promising horse but would need to improve in order to get in."
