McCain works his magic again as Amberleigh brings the house down

Ginger McCain equalled the record number of National wins by a trainer as Amberleigh House gave the ultimate staying performance under Graham Lee to snatch the 157th Grand National from Clan Royal and Liam Cooper in the last few strides with a record crowd of more than 70,000 cheering home a local victory.

McCain, 73, who trains at Cholmondley, is a part of Aintree folklore, having sent out Red Rum from his previous Southport stable to win the race three times in the 1970s.

McCain's passion for the place that was fuelled by Red Rum still burns. It started when he came to the course as a young lad in the late 1930s and he is fulsome in his praise for the way the racecourse executive, led by managing director Charles Barnett, has uplifted the course's fortunes.

McCain said: 'I have never seen so many happy people as were here yesterday and today, and so many good-looking women. I nearly went to get some tablets on the way home last night.

'You can have your Royal Ascots and your Cheltenhams, this is the people's course and it is a people's race. It is stone-cold magic.'

Yet McCain, who equalled the record of four wins held by Fred Rimell, admitted that he thought Amberleigh House, at 12, had missed his chance of National glory when third behind Monty's Pass last year. However, Lee and owner John Halewood were confident that, given good ground, their veteran chaser could take the prize.

Indeed, McCain gave much of the credit to his son and assistant, Donald, and Lee, who formulated the game plan to hold Amberleigh House up at the rear of the field, adding in jocular fashion: 'What do I know? I am only the trainer.'

But it was a plan that nearly backfired in the mayhem at Becher's first time round that claimed nine runners. Amberleigh House was in the middle of the chaos, but somehow the partnership stayed intact. As Hedgehunter, Alcapone and Puntal took the field along at a breakneck gallop, the winner was a long way back.

Also close-up were Lord Atterbury and the free-running Clan Royal, with Monty's Pass not far behind the leading bunch but seemingly tapped for pace under his 11st 10lb.

Coming towards the home turn, one would have been forgiven for thinking that Hedgehunter, Clan Royal and Lord Atterbury had the race to themselves, but Lee now had Amberleigh House pounding into their lead and, despite jumping to the right at the final two fences, he closed relentlessly.

Hedgehunter was beginning to crack as he fell at the last and both Clan Royal and Lord Atterbury wobbled on the run-in. Clan Royal was in front but wavering all over the course - for a second it looked as though he might go the wrong side of the elbow - and Lee must have been confident of getting his mount home in front as he continued his relentless progress.

It was a slow-motion finish but Clan Royal, whose jockey dropped his whip after a mistake five out, managed to rally before going down by three lengths with Lord Atterbury two lengths away. There were worrying moments for those connected with the third as Mark Bradburne dismounted, but the horse recovered from the wobbles.

Monty's Pass was a gallant fourth and his hard-punting owner Mike Futter said: 'I had half the bet I was going to have if the sun had stayed out.' There were just 11 finishers from the 39 who set out. Thankfully, all horses returned safely but jockeys Tom Scudamore (suspected broken wrist) and James Davies (neck injury) were taken to hospital.

Liverpool-born Halewood was briefly unable to find the words to express his delight, before saying: 'This is the best day of my life. When I first came to the National with my father, we couldn't afford to come in the main enclosures. But now I have my own box and two runners in the race [Kelami was the other]. It's just a great feeling.'

Like Halewood, Amberleigh House just loves this course. Two years ago he was denied a run because his handicap mark was too low, even though he had won the Becher Chase over the course. That was something that made McCain rather angry but, basking in this victory, he has mellowed.

But not enough to let Donald take hold of the reins just yet. McCain said: 'I am getting old, short-tempered and grumpy, and I did say that if I won this race again, I might just let the boy take over, but bugger it.'

The supporting card for the National makes this day as good, quality-wise, as the Cheltenham Festival. The old adage that you do not send a boy out to do a man's job did not ring true after the Aintree Hurdle as 19-year-old amateur JP Magnier, a student from Dublin, brought home Rhinestone Cowboy three-quarters of a length in front of Rooster Booster.

It helps, of course, that JP is the son of the owner, John Magnier, but for a young jockey unable to claim his 7lb allowance against top jockeys like McCoy and Richard Johnson, it was an examination that he passed with flying colours. Magnier seemed remarkably cool as he poked Rhinestone Cowboy's nose in front close home.