McCain on form with National in sight

Knock House needs 10 to drop out to make field Gold Cup winner Power new No1 jockey for Potts

If there is one family inextricably linked with the Randox Health Grand National, it is the McCains.

Ginger sent out Red Rum to become the only horse to win a third National 40 years ago and followed it up with Amberleigh House in 2004.

His son Donald, who played a big part behind the scenes in the 2004 race, won it in his own right in 2011 with Ballabriggs. But in 2016, for the first time in years, there was no McCain-trained runner.

Donald had trained The Last Samuri for three years with the race in mind until he was removed from his yard along with a number of other horses belonging to Paul Rooney.

In the belief that his former inmate was sure to win, McCain decided to avoid Aintree and did not see The Last Samuri chase home Rule the World. “I went away for the weekend,” explained McCain yesterday. “I couldn’t face it.”

But McCain will be back at Aintree next week, whether or not Knock House, his only entry in this year’s race, makes the cut.

The eight-year-old, is currently 50th in the handicap and needs 10 to drop out. “He’s a nice-ground horse and almost as soon as we ran him the ground went,” explained the trainer, who bought Knock House out of Mick Channon’s yard last summer.

“We had his wind tidied up and he galloped all the way to the line in a hurdle at Haydock recently. We thought he had no chance of getting into the National but he’s borderline now. If he doesn’t get in, he’s also in the Topham and a threemile chase on National day, but he’s only eight and there’ll be other years for the National.”

McCain, who has spent the past two years rebuilding and is going great guns again with 71 winners this season, said: “We’ve got a lot of nice young horses coming through. Hopefully, there’ll be plenty to take to Aintree in the years to come.”

Robbie Power starts a new phase of his career today as newly appointed retained rider for Alan and Ann Potts. Power wore their green, yellow and red silks successfully twice at the Cheltenham Festival, including on Sizing John in the Gold Cup.

However, while he will ride for the Potts when he can, Sizing John’s trainer, Jessica Harrington, will still have first call on his services.

“I’m still Jessie’s No1, there’s no change on that score,” said Power. “But, when I can, I’ll ride for Alan, starting with two at Taunton for Colin Tizzard [Sizing At Midnight and Sizing Granite]. Looking forward to Aintree, there’s so many really lovely horses to ride, like Fox Norton and Finian’s Oscar. I’ve haven’t got a confirmed National ride, but we’re working on that.” By Marcus Armytage