LIVERPOOL: Trainer Donald McCain followed his father Ginger into Grand National folklore by winning the world famous steeplechase with Ballabriggs at Aintree Saturday. Ridden by Jason Maguire, Ballabriggs (14-1) held off the strong challenge of amateur Sam Waley-Cohen on Oscar Time (14-1) to win by two and a quarter lengths. Last year's winner Don't Push It (9-1) was third. Donald was a six year-old watching the race at his grandmother's house when Red Rum, trained by his father and probably the most famous National winner of them all, won it for a third time in 1977. McCain senior gave his son much of the credit when he won again with Amberleigh House in 2004, before retiring and handing over the training reins to Donald. While Ginger, 80, calmly watched proceedings on a big screen from the paddock, Donald, 41, could hardly contain his excitement and sprinted in his pinstripe suit on to the racecourse before embracing Maguire in a long hug. Maguire had been in danger of missing the race having suffered a heavy fall on the opening day of the meeting Thursday. The Irishman rode sporting a red bandage on his right wrist and hand and with stitches in his elbow. There was a sting in the tail for Maguire, who was handed a five-day suspension by stewards for using his whip with excessive frequency on Ballabriggs after the last fence. In an eventful race in front of a sell-out crowd of over 70,000 racegoers, 19 of the 40 starters finished. Two horses died and Becher's and one other fence were bypassed on the second circuit while the ill-fated animals were attended to. A successful entrepreneur with no plans to turn professional, Waley-Cohen won the prestigious King George VI Chase in January and last month's Cheltenham Gold Cup with his father's exciting chaser Long Run. Last year's winner Don't Push It, bidding to become the first horse to win successive Nationals since 1977, finished third for champion jockey Tony McCoy. The Midnight Club, the 15
