Glorious weather that saw the Grand National 2011 bathed in sunshine has been credited with helping the three day event set a modern-day attendance record.
The throng on Grand National Day, Saturday 9th April was 70,291 and that brought the total to 153,583 over thw whole meeting.
The sell-out crowds on Ladies’ Day, Friday, had numbered 53,344 and a record for Liverpool Day, Thursday, was 29,948.
The previous record attendance over the three days was set in 2005 at 151,660.
The 2011 John Smiths Grand National finishing order:-
1) BALLABRIGGS 14/1
2) OSCAR TIME 14/1
3) DON’T PUSH IT 9/1
4) STATE OF PLAY 28/1
5) NICHE MARKET 16/1
6) THE MIDNIGHT CLUB 15/2 FAV
7) BIG FELLA THANKS
8) SURFACE TO AIR
9) SKIPPERS BRIGG
10) BACKSTAGE
11) KING FONTAINE
12) SILVER BY NATURE
13) IN COMPLIANCE
14) BLUESEA CRACKER
15) CHARACTER BUILDING
16) GOLDEN KITE
17) CHIEF DAN GEORGE
18) ROYAL ROSA
19) PIRAYA
Ballabriggs’ trainer and Southport-born 'local' hero Donald McCain said of the win: "It’s fantastic. I’m very lucky to have been involved with the Grand National all my life.
"We’d been involved with one winner (when assistant to his father Ginger after Amberleigh House won) and I’m not greedy, I’m just happy to be able to train nice horses. It genuinely didn’t matter, everyone knows the way it’s been going for us and I’m just happy with that.
"The thing with us and Aintree is I guess as much about coming from the North West. We’ve got a little bit Cheltenham-obsessed if anything but you only have to come here this week to realise what this place is all about. There’s nothing quite like it but you try not to build yourself up before the Grand National.
"We were always going to be fairly positive with the horse, drop him out nice and handy, and once he was away sit in behind them and ride our race. He did the right thing, stay out of trouble enjoying himself and it was just a matter if he lasted it out. I was thrilled watching him going round there and I’d have been delighted if he’d been fourth or fifth.
"You only have to look at him to see that he’s a quality staying chaser and if you train for Mr Hemmings’ there’s always a hope that it might be an Aintree horse, especially with us as a family. I remember Jason getting off him after he was beaten in a novice chase at Catterick and saying he could be an Aintree horse one day. I just can’t believe it has all gone so smoothly to get here.
"Only the press and bookmakers were disappointed when he got beaten at Kelso last time, we were running a Grand National horse over two miles and six furlongs. I wanted to make sure he was ready for today. He quickened up from the second last at Kelso and I can’t believe one horse came past him.
"It’s been a rough old winter and we’ve got a hard-working team at home. We want to be
around nice horses and nice people and it was great for a first-season trainer to get the support of someone like Mr Hemmings."
Jockey Jason Maguire said: "My biggest problem was to get him to relax. I didn’t want to lose my position early on so we probably did too much in the early stage.
"He was going in to attack every fence and even two out I was still hanging on to him. But once he was off the bridle and straightened up he really dug deep and was always going to hang on. He was very tired afterwards and it’s incredible to win on a horse people thought was a doubtful stayer.
"I had a fall on Thursday and just got a couple of stitches in my hand but I’m fine. It will take a while for it to sink in."
Jonjo O’Neill, trainer of third-placed Don’t Push It who won last year, said: "He has run an absolute blinder and it couldn’t get much better. It’s like everything, he’s another year older but it was just a great run.
"I’m delighted to have been able to get him back here in great shape and I’m thrilled for Trevor Hemmings and the McCains, it’s brilliant for them."
Don’t Push It’s rider Tony McCoy added: "He ran his heart out and made no mistakes out there. He did nothing wrong the whole way round. I just wish every horse I got to ride in the Grand National was as nice as him to ride. To win and finish third in a National on him is amazing and I’m thrilled for Trevor Hemmings and the McCains, it’s a great story."
Paul Moloney, rider of fourth-placed State Of Play, in the frame for the third successive year, said: "Age is catching up with him and I was just taken off my feet a bit. I got a lovely start and I could have done with slower ground. I think in another 100 yards I’d have been third. What a horse. I’ll never ride another horse like him, to have done that in three Nationals is incredible."
mick, wales around 7 months, 2 weeks ago