Tag Archives: filling

Donald McCain is filling the void left by Ginger

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McCain Mk II is filling the void left by the legendary Ginger

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UPDATED:

21:30 GMT, 4 April 2012

The delivery is less colourful and expletive-free but the sentiment could have issued from the lips of his famous father, Ginger.

Twelve-year-old daughter Abbie has just been beaten in both her first pony races. Donald McCain expresses both pride and satisfaction. Defeat is far more character- building.

‘I don’t think long-term it does you any harm having to struggle a bit,’ he says. ‘One of the best groundings for training a good horse is having a few bad ones.’

Pride and joy: Donald McCain, the son of legendary trainer 'Ginger', with 2011 National winner Ballabriggs

Pride and joy: Donald McCain, the son of legendary trainer 'Ginger', with 2011 National winner Ballabriggs

Ginger McCain would have felt the same. The Aintree legend, with his four Grand National victories, knew a bit about overcoming adversity, especially in the quiet years that followed three-time winner Red Rum.

Ginger’s death in September will leave a massive void on Saturday week on the stage he adored, 12 months after he stood in the winner’s enclosure delivering a trademark irreverent reaction to his proudest moment — success for his son courtesy of the Jason Maguire-ridden Ballabriggs.

The three-day Aintree meeting promises to be emotional for the McCain family, with widow Beryl unveiling Ginger’s statue a week on Thursday, a few yards from the one immortalising Red Rum.

But, if the John Smith’s Grand National has lost its greatest champion, it has not had to look far for his successor.

For Donald, who admits to a graveside apology when he could not muster a runner over the iconic fences at the track’s December fixture, the passion for the National burns just as brightly as his desire to protect it.

Gone but not forgotten: Ginger McCain beams as he stands with the Grand National trophy in 2004, and (below) with the last year's winner Ballabriggs

Gone but not forgotten: Ginger McCain beams as he stands with the Grand National trophy in 2004, and (below) with the last year's winner Ballabriggs

Gone but not forgotten: Ginger McCain beams as he stands with the Grand National trophy in 2004, and (below) with the last year's winner Ballabriggs

Changes have been made to three of the
fences and additional welfare measures introduced since the two deaths
which took the gloss off the victory of Ballabriggs, but Donald is
adamant that the sport must now be confident and resolute in defending
the race.

Pictures of an exhausted Ballabriggs being given oxygen that was not really needed after his victory were misinterpreted, Donald insists, as was the decision not to take the horse to the winner’s enclosure. Poor PR also left well-meaning actions looking chaotic.

Donald said: ‘We were told that for the future of the race, and to keep it safe, more changes had to be made but I don’t think what has been done will make a huge amount of difference.

‘I hope now we can draw a line in the sand and say, “This is the Grand National, leave it alone”. It’s the greatest test of a thoroughbred racehorse on the planet. It is not about class but toughness, durability, professionalism and heart.

High times: Ballabriggs in 2011

High times: Ballabriggs in 2011

‘It is unfortunate Ballabriggs did not go
in the winner’s enclosure but the best thing for the horse was to get
him in the peace and quiet of the stable.’

Ginger would have said the same, only more stridently. He hated the interference in the race that flowed through his veins like the Mersey flows through its home city.

When Amberleigh House gave Ginger his fourth National in 2004, much of the credit went to Donald, his regular rider on the gallops. Winning last year, however, meant more than just his name etched on the trophy.

‘I love Aintree, I have grown up with it but you couldn’t describe what it meant to Dad. One of the satisfying things is knowing he got to see another Grand National winner come out of everything that he put together.’

That ‘everything’ is the most successful National Hunt stable north of the Trent, which captured two Cheltenham Festival wins this season and houses nearly 150 horses in Cheshire.

It is a metaphorical million miles from the cramped stable behind the Southport car lot where a six-year-old Donald watched from his bedroom window as Red Rum returned through crowded streets following his third win in 1977.

Ballabriggs, 11 years old and carrying 11st 9lb, will try to be the first horse since to win the National more than once. Bookmakers make him 14-1 after a fourth place at Kelso last month, in his only run since his big win, left some pundits disappointed. Not Donald.

‘It was the same when he was second in the same race and everyone was knocking him. I was thrilled with him and so was Jason.

Legend: Ginger on board the great Red Rum, who died in 1995

Legend: Ginger on board the great Red Rum, who died in 1995

‘He thought he ran a better race than last year, and, with the exception of Synchronised (Cheltenham Gold Cup winner), I don’t think the National is as strong as last year.

‘What Dad always taught me is to prepare a horse for one day and that’s what I’m doing. It’s not about the week before or the week after. It’s about one day in April.’
And what a day it could be.

l TRAINER Nicky Henderson says Burton Port, fourth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, will miss the National to run in Thursday’s Betfred Bowl Chase as long as Ballabriggs makes the big race. Both are owned by Trevor Hemmings.

Stuart Pearce acts as if he will lead England to Euro 2012

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Pearce acts as if he is the man to lead England at the Euros

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UPDATED:

21:48 GMT, 28 March 2012

Stuart Pearce is continuing to perform the duties of the England manager in the firm belief that he might yet be in charge at this summer’s European Championship.

Sportsmail understands that Pearce has maintained regular dialogue with managers in the Barclays Premier League since taking the national team for last month’s friendly against Holland — quizzing them on the players he has told them he might yet be selecting for the England squad that travels to Poland and Ukraine.

Pearce, also the Under 21 boss and the GB Olympic coach, has made no secret of his desire to lead England in a major tournament, publicly questioning the wisdom of parachuting in a manager with no international experience at the end of this domestic season.

Watching brief: England caretaker manager Stuart Pearce with U21 coach Brian Eastick at Bramall Lane watching Sheffield United and Chesterfield on Wednesday night

Watching brief: England caretaker manager Stuart Pearce with U21 coach Brian Eastick at Bramall Lane watching Sheffield United and Chesterfield on Wednesday night

Hands on: Pearce is filling the void for the FA

Hands on: Pearce is filling the void for the FA

At the same time he has agreed to continue performing a role that might assist Fabio Capello’s permanent replacement should he be appointed in time for Euro 2012. Tottenham’s Harry Redknapp remains the favourite.

But with the Football Association yet to make an official move for Redknapp — or anyone else, it seems — Pearce appears to be growing into the role. As the FA confirmed on Wednesday, he plans to attend Tottenham’s game against Swansea on Sunday before seeing Manchester United at Blackburn on Monday.

Letters have been sent out to all the players — totalling more than 70 —who have been named in provisional England squads in the past 18 months, informing them that they might be required in the summer.

In his dealings with Premier League managers, Pearce is said to have employed a serious tone that suggests he is preparing for the possibility that the FA might not have their new man in place in time for the Euros.

But that is being seen as a concern, given Pearce’s relative lack of managerial experience, when a serious problem is beginning to present itself to the FA ahead of the tournament. In short, whether Rio Ferdinand and John Terry can play alongside one another in the England defence.

First of many Pearce took charge of England's game with Holland in February

First of many Pearce took charge of England's game with Holland in February

When the race storm between Terry and Ferdinand’s brother Anton first erupted, Manchester United defender Rio was struggling with injury and seemingly out of favour with then England manager Capello. His chances of going to the European Championship seemed remote.

Now, however, Ferdinand is enjoying a fine spell of form and he and Terry are probably back to being the best two English centre halves in the game.

Big question: The new England manager will have to decide if John Terry and Rio Ferdinand can play alongside each other

Big question: The new England manager will have to decide if John Terry and Rio Ferdinand can play alongside each other

As yet there have been no attempts by the FA to discover how Ferdinand might feel about playing with Terry when the Chelsea captain will face allegations of racially abusing his younger brother in court in July.

For Pearce, indeed any England manager, it presents a potentially huge problem and one that could seriously undermine the country’s chances at Euro 2012 if not resolved

Roberto Martinez hails Wigan"s Victor Moses

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Moses provides added impetus to Wigan's survival bid after Bolton victory

Flying winger: Victor Moses

Flying winger: Victor Moses

Roberto Martinez revealed Wigan’s extra incentive for staying up after admitting relegation could cost them the matchwinning services of Victor Moses.

Snapped up from Crystal Palace for 2.5million two years ago, Moses has revelled in the extra responsibility of filling the void left by Charles N’Zogbia’s move to Aston Villa at the end of last season.

Talks over a new improved contract are ongoing, and Martinez was optimistic they can be concluded. After seeing the 21-year old winger run Bolton ragged, though, and even mentioning him in the same breath as Lionel Messi, he conceded Wigan will first have to safeguard their Barclays Premier League status.

‘When we brought him here, we always had it in mind that Victor could fill the same role Charles had,’ said the Wigan manager. ‘He is that same rare breed as Charles, a player who can run at defenders and take the ball past them.

‘His actions in one-on-ones are sensational, and when you see him in possession, you think he could easily have been born in Holland or Spain. You don’t see many players like that in the modern game. Charles is one, Lionel Messi another, albeit on a different scale.

‘Victor is growing all the time. He is taking responsibility and learning to look up and deliver the final pass, and this is turning into the biggest season of his career.

‘He plays a massive role for us and is an important asset. There have been developments in the talks over a new agreement, and I am sure we are going to be able to extend his contract. He has said he wants to stay, but the situation of the club has to be resolved first. We have to secure our top-flight status, then we can do it.’

Game over: James McArthur (right) scores Wigan's winner against Bolton

Game over: James McArthur (right) scores Wigan's winner against Bolton

Moses’ agent hinted he may reconsider his international future, after playing for England up to under-21 level then being registered to represent the country of his birth, Nigeria.

With a Nigeria cap yet to materialise, Martinez believes Fabio Capello’s successor should give serious consideration to an early call-up for the Wigan flyer.

‘I know Victor can go on to the next level,’ he said. ‘He needs more Premier League games under his belt, but he has already shown he has a strong mentality. Time will tell, on the England front, but he is a player I love watching, one who is happy to rely on his talent to be effective. He is capable of playing for any team.’

After seeing Mark Davies’ spectacular equaliser go to waste, as James McArthur swept home a 77th-minute winner for Wigan, Bolton defender Zat Knight pulled no punches over his side’s shortcomings.

Vital: Wigan celebrate scoring the winner against Bolton

Vital: Wigan celebrate scoring the winner against Bolton

‘I am very disappointed and frustrated,’ he said. ‘Everybody is a bit hacked off, and we need to pull our socks up and do something about it.

‘I am unhappy myself. I think one or two individuals weren’t up to scratch, and as a team we did not gel. The other week, we had a fantastic performance against Arsenal, then went away to Norwich and were lacklustre. Today, again, we performed for maybe 20 minutes out of the 90, and that is not good enough.

'I am fed up with the performance. I am not going to pick people out, but everybody knows who they are, and we are going to have to look at ourselves and pick it up again.

‘The frustrating thing is, we know we can do it. We know we can rub shoulders with the best teams, but we let ourselves down when we come up against teams who are around us.

‘I believe one or two have switched off in those games. People say we are looking a bit tired, but it is a big carrot we are playing for. Chelsea and Manchester City are massive games now. If we lose those two, we could be at the bottom with 11 games to go, and other teams might pick up a bit of confidence.’

Bolton v Wigan