Donald McCain: All systems go for National repeat

Donald McCain / Donald McCain / 04 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Ballabriggs could make his seasonal reappearance at Bangor next week.

"He’s in grand form at home and I couldn’t be happier with him at this stage. I am hoping to run him at Bangor next Friday if possible and that will just put an edge on him......."

A quiet weekend for the Bankhouse team but Donald tells us that the weather isn't wreaking havoc with the schedule just yet.

The weather was due to turn and the cold snap means it is a quieter time than normal. Hopefully Musselburgh will go ahead on Sunday but it's nothing like as busy as we have been in recent weeks.

I was asked recently how the bad weather affected our preparations for upcoming targets and the truth is that it doesn't make too much of an impact.

We can still get the horses out on the new All Weather gallop and although they miss out on some sharper work, they are still cantering on a daily basis.

We have had such a good run with the weather this winter that, even with the big Festivals on the horizon, missing a couple of weeks isn't a problem

One thing they do miss out on is the schooling but if the worst comes to the worst we can get them schooling on the All Weather and it's not a disaster.

The entries for the Grand National were announced this week and I have entered three in the race, headed by last year's hero Ballabriggs.

He's in grand form at home and I couldn't be happier with him at this stage. I am hoping to run him at Bangor next Friday if possible and that will just put an edge on him.

He's been ticking over nicely and everything is going to plan - we know he loves the place and he deserves to be at the head of the betting.

I am not sure whether Weird Al will run or not at this stage - his main aim is the Gold Cup and we will have to wait and see how he gets on there before making any firm decisions either way.

Last but not least is Wymott. I don't think he was right at Doncaster as he travelled superbly in the headgear but when he came under pressure, he stopped far too quickly for comfort.

He came back very tired which is not like him and we will have to see if anything comes to light before making any firm plans.