Grand National legend friends paid tribute to “the most wonderful man in racing”

Grand National legend Ginger McCain's friends have paid tribute to “the most wonderful man in racing”.

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Appreciated the news that 80-year-old died in his sleep yesterday morning threw the following.

Grand National legend Red Rum in 1973, 1974 and 1977 for he to win four times, three of them will be remembered. Incredibly, “Rummie” also finished second in 1975 and 1976.

Ginger’s wife of 50 years, Beryl, confirmed a public memorial service after the funeral family, for which a date will be set up.

Ginger also leaves daughter Joanne and son Donald Jnr, who this year himself won the National with Ballabriggs.

Beryl said: “Joanne, Donald Jnr and I appreciate all the kindness we are being shown.”

Racing around the world, has paid tribute to Ginger played a unique role.

She said she remembers Ginger as “the most honest and open man I ever met, never afraid to speak his mind. He was a legend, just the most wonderful man in racing. He gave me my break in life when I’d just left school and didn’t know what to do.”

Fashion at the Grand National: beach dresses

You don't have to be interested in the horses or the race to attend the Grand Nationals. In fact it is increasingly becoming a very popular event for women to show off their latest outfits and styles, usually revolved around a beautiful dress.

It can be hard to get the right length of dress for an event such as the Grand National, but beach dresses can offer a solution to this problem. Whether you are lacking height so a shorter dress would flatter, or alternatively you are very tall meaning a maxi dress would suit you better, beach dresses come in a variety of styles.

Meaning there is something for everyone! Check out the latest beach dresses at www.tucanobeach.com

John Smith's Grand National to the trained John Quinn

John Smith's Grand National to the trained John Quinn at oriented to character building is on the road - despite trailing home last week. Trainer Christian Von Der Recke in Belgium for the last seven finishers.

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Ridden by Jamie Moore, the 11-year-old in the Grand Steeplechase DES Flandres Waregem racecourse struggled to cope with the idiosyncratic demands, the Belgian leg of the popular Crystal Cup cross-country series.

Nina Carberry in the role of citizens within the last two courses are completed, seventh and 15th last term in 2010.

Von der Recke, Germany's top jumps trainer, about a return to Aintree but is expected and already seen a prestigious international competition on this time in Italy.

He said, "Character Building didn't really take to the course at Waregem but he has come out of the race fine".

"The plan is to go for the Gran Premio di Merano Forst in Italy on September 25, where he will again be ridden by Jamie Moore. If all goes well there, the Grand National next April remains on the agenda."

Von der Recke at Weilerswist near Cologne is based on the fifth Waregem Merano, where Sam Twiston Davies is hoping to ride to maintain plans to send our hero.

Von der Recke secret German championship two other horses who ran in Waregem was reported, the former Irish-trained Windsor Brook and hurdler Our First Chesnut.

He said: "Windsor Brook might go for the novice chase at Merano, but he's not a definite starter, but Our First Chesnut will go for the hurdle race that he won last year."

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Evan Williams thinks his Grand National hope State Of Play

Evan Williams thinks his Grand National think State Of Play is "not good enough" to win Saturday's Aintree marathon.

Paul Moloney world's most famous horse race with a third consecutive top four finish for bid as they will ride 11-year-old.

Williams said: "The reality is he is not good enough to win a National."

State Of Play in his last five races, four of the top four have ended in 2009 Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury and Williams pulling for Grand National as it is saved from last April showpiece has not run.

But Vale of Glamorgan handler such as Midnight Club and a secret key claim about the possibility of death do not trust.

Williams said, "The first National I got very nervous because I think State Of Play had a serious chance".

"Last year I wasn't so bad because I thought his chance had gone and this year I'm being very relaxed because the reality is he is not good enough to win a National.

"He is carrying less weight because he is not good enough to win.

"As long as the horse comes back in one piece, that is all I can really hope for. Anything more than that is a bonus.

"You can never say never in a National because it can be carnage so you always have a chance. If he runs well and finishes respectably, I'd be happy enough.

"You would be very stupid to be too confident going to a Grand National. But I'm happy as we have done all he can do as we couldn't have got him fitter."

Jacob will ride on What A Friend in Grand National

Paul Nicholls has confirmed that Daryl Jacob will ride on What A Friend in upcoming month's John Smith's Grand National at Aintree on April 9.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has eight years old to be part of owned, on Friday ran the race of his life under Jacob to be fourth on Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The Ditcheat trainer said on Twitter: "Daryl Jacob rides What a Friend in Grand National."

Do not push it on course behind the blast at the festival for eyecatching run back to victories in the National's bid.

Pertemps final constraints on the amount buena vista, behind 10th place and a trip to Aintree marathon ended real way out, despite the performance of this happiness was a connection.

Frank Berry is a racing manager to owner JP McManus said, "Everything's fine. He's come out of the race good and we are looking forward to going back to Aintree again".

"He ran well, he got a little bit outpaced at the top of the hill and he ran on again. You'd have to be happy with him. All roads lead to Aintree, that's the plan."

Grand National Confirms Silver By Nature

The intended target for Silver By Nature has been confirmed John Smiths for Grand National.

"Silver By Nature has been given the go ahead to run in the John Smith's Grand National," Scudamore wrote in the Daily Mail.

"Geoff, who told me he and his wife had agreed to disagree about the decision, has always insisted he would not run his grey in the National unless he felt the horse had a genuine chance.

"I have been involved with two Grand National winners, Bindaree and Earth Summit, during my time working with Nigel Twiston-Davies and I've no doubt that Silver By Nature, runner-up in the 2009 Welsh National, could match them both for class."

Merigo exoected to Grand National winner

Coral Scottish Grand National winner, Merigo, Aintree national territory are likely to improve.

It is not possible Ayr hero, is trained on Lockerbie by Andrew Parker, Liverpool in the race to extract, but is now 63rd in line from 75th went above and many more with the possibility of error, was, what Can make it 40 was allowed to participate in it given.

Merigo fall when Becher Chase Aintree for the first time in November, but this deal with floods Parker, who returned the 10-year-old wants to send Liverpool not believe has not run since.

Parker, who on Saturday at Doncaster in the Grimthorpe Chase intends to run Merigo, said: “We still need more horses to drop out and we have an anxious wait ahead of us, but there is only one Grand National and if we get in, we will run. I’ve never had a runner in the race and I might never have another good enough, so we’re keen to give it a go. If we can’t, the Scottish National is a good Plan B.

The horse is desperate for a run and he goes to Doncaster on Saturday. He ran in the same race last season before going to Ayr so we’re following the same route.”

Jonjo O'Neill gelding's barrier in the barrier was pulled last March, but it did not stop Liverpool taking the top prize a few weeks later under AP McCoy.

He exhibited in Wiltshire County entered on Saturday but Frank Barry Greatwood on Newbury Gold Cup Chase relief is disabled, owner JP McManus's racing manager, said: “He’ll more than likely wait for the Pertemps. He’s come out of his last race very well [at Newbury last month] and Jonjo couldn’t be happier with him."

National remains on Rocker radar

Before the John Smith's Grand National,West End Rocker will not run again after being pulled up on stamina-sapping ground at Haydock on Saturday.

The nine-year-old drifted out to as big as 33-1 in places, from a general price of 20-1, for the Aintree feature on April 9 after failing to complete the course in the totesport.com Grand National Trial .

Wayne Hutchinson pulled him out after making a bad blunder at the second-last fence when well behind in sixth place.

Only four runners finished the three-and-a-half-mile slog, won by Silver By Nature.

"It was just too testing for him. Wayne did the right thing pulling him up in the end but he was fine on Sunday morning." said trainer Alan King.

"I shouldn't think he'd run again. He'll go straight to Aintree."

Russell wishes for Haydock repeat

In Saturday's totesport.com Grand National Trial at Haydock,Silver By Nature will look back-to-back victories ahead of a possible challenge for the big race itself.

In the Welsh National,Lucinda Russell's finishing second and taking this event when it was known as the Blue Square Gold Cup.

When being prepared for the Scottish National,Silver By Nature faces an injury and has raced twice this season with a 10th in the Hennessy at Newbury and a seventh back at the Welsh National.

He was allocated 10st 12lb at the unveiling of the Aintree weights on Monday and the Kinross-based handler said: "Silver By Nature has not been quite right this season and we had a lot of hassle with the snow but he still ran quite a good race in the Welsh National."

Pipe National team grows to six

With the news that Or Noir De Somoza has joined the Pond House squad,David Pipe's John Smith's Grand National team has been extended to six.

I am very grateful to the new Swiss owners of Or Noir De Somoza for sending him to me to prepare for Aintree's great race," said Pipe.

"We have had Or Noir De Somoza in the yard before and he finished fourth in Ascot's Victor Chandler Chase behind Master Minded. He stays very well and I have always thought he looked like an ideal Grand National candidate.

"I am delighted to have him and he is a very exciting addition to our team of entries for the big race that consists of I'msingingtheblues, Comply Or Die, Piraya, Faasel, and Junior," he told his website, www.davidpipe.com.

Merigo returns at Ayr

Andrew Parker is happy to be getting a much-needed run into his smart staying chaser Merigo at Ayr.

For the totesport.com Grand National Trial at Haydock on February 19,Scottish National hero was warms up for the totesport.com,with a spin over the smaller obstacles in the Bet Now At victorchandler.com Novices' Hurdle, in which he will face five rivals.

"It's something we do now and again with him. If you look in the past we give him a run over hurdles just to sharpen him up when we're struggling with a race for him," said Parker.

"We'll then go to Haydock in a fortnight for the big chase. It's a case of getting some race sharpness back into him. We had a lot of hard frosts and we were struggling for six weeks.

"Two years ago we ran him in a three-mile hurdle at Ayr at around the same time when he was second, but we're not going to go for the Eider this year. Hopefully he'll go to Haydock for the Grand National trial in 12 days' time."

Finger will be kept cross by the Lockerbie trainer as Merigo will get a run in the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree on April 9.

If not, he will bid for back-to-back victories in the Scottish version the following Saturday.

Noel Glynn confident over Grand National bid

Noel Glynn has revealed that he had faith in Becauseicouldntsee's chances in the forthcoming Grand National.He further expressed that Peter Marsh Chase guests of horse racing packages could give a good indication.

Glynn claimed the eight-year-old was in "good form" in the run-up to the big day and revealed his camp had been looking for opportunities to test his fence-jumping.

"We'll give him this run this weekend and that might be his last over fences, but we'll see how we get on," he explained. "He's a tank of a horse and although they say weight stops trains, he can carry it."

It has been predicted by Glynn that he has full confidence that Becauseicouldntsee will perform "well" at Haydock and revealed that Nina Carberry would be fined with riding the horse, although he had initially considered handing the job to a professional jockey.

National route beckons for Rocker

Haydock is continues along the road to the John Smith's Grand National.

Alan King's nine-year-old showed plenty of stamina to land the totesport.com Classic Chase at Warwick, just prevailing by three-quarters of a length from Minella Boys in a thrilling finish.

The Barbury Castle handler is now eyeing the totesport.com National Trial at Haydock on February 19 before heading for the Aintree extravaganza in April.

He was always travelling and jumped great, and I thought it was a super run. He'll now take in the Grand National Trial at Haydock en route to Aintree," he told www.alankingracing.co.uk.

King is planning a trip to Cheltenham with his other Warwick winner, Call Me A Legend.

"We were really pleased with Call Me A Legend, who won the two-mile handicap chase," he added.

"She has come back well, having fractured a pelvis last year, and, though she will go to stud at the end of the season, it would be a fairytale if she could bow out by winning the Grand Annual at Cheltenham. She won't run again before the Festival."

Grand National hero Tony McCoy eventually won the race

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awards eventually won the Tony McCoy previous month, he spent a time after that there was still one clear forget on his CV.

The perennial champion jockey had never won the Welsh National past at Chepstow.

This separation due the meeting have been always clashes with Kempton's fixture at Christmas it meant that McCoy had not reality had that many rides in the race.

After a 15 year at Aintree he wait for first win, it would be ironic were McCoy to win two in a row but he himself harbours doubts about the winner's suitability for the unique fences.

McCoy said: “I've won the English, Irish and now Welsh Nationals for Jonjo and JP (McManus), so that's very special. He took a long time to learn how to jump normal fences and he doesn't jump out at me as a typical National horse. He might take to it, he might not. This was the ideal race for him, three miles five furlongs round here on soft ground. I don't know if he has the scope for the Grand National fences, but he did jump better than he has ever done.

“He's achieved his big target — this was his Gold Cup.”

Merigo still on National trail

At Aintree, Merigo's fall in the Becher Chase has not effected Andrew Parker to have a rethink about aiming for the John Smith's Grand National.

The bitter weather at his Lockerbie stables has been the more significant concern for Parker's.

"We've been severely held up by the weather, with the temperature getting down to minus 14C on quite a lot of nights, and that has scuppered a lot of our plans," said Parker.

"He'll be entered for the Grand National and for the Scottish National again.

"Timmy said he was jumping very well up to the point he fell in the Becher Chase. Basically he asked him for a long one and he came down too sharply when he's really a horse that you just leave alone at the fences.

"I schooled him myself a couple of days later and he was absolutely brilliant again.

"If he runs again before the weights come out for the National it will probably be over hurdles, which won't move his chasing mark up or down. But if he gets 137, it would make it difficult to get in."

Merigo is a general 25-1 shot at this stage.

Grand National first prize tops £950,000 for 2011

An augment first prize in this year's John Smith's Grand National creates the legendary steeplechase by far the richest jump race in Europe.

On 9 April,2011 race, which takes place the first prize for which will increase to a record £950,000, a rise of £25,000 on last year's race.

Under the sponsorship of John Smith it will going to be a seventh Grand National race and total prize-money for the three-day meeting, which starts on 7 April, will be £2,540,000.