Connections of Grand National winner Ballabriggs barely had chance to savour their star's glory when the odds for the 2012 renewal at Aintree went up and made the new champion favourite to defend his crown. William Hill price Donald McCain's gelding at odds of 14/1 for the 2012 Grand National, with several impressive performers from 2011 also backed for another challenge.
Trainer Donald McCain joined his father, Ginger, on the winner's roster with Ballabriggs' victory as the family continued their fine tradition in the Aintree spectacle. Ginger was famously a winner with the record breaking three time champion Red Rum and again with Amberleigh House in 2004. Ballabriggs proved to be a match for those great names as the10-year-old was prominent from the first after starting as a 14/1 shot and dug in deep to win by two and a quarter lengths from Oscar Time.
It was a remarkable debut in the National for the 2010 Kim Muir winner as he claimed glory off a starting weight off 10st 9lbs, and McCain has admitted that next season will be geared towards Aintree again. McCain has already started looking towards a title defence in 2012 and Ballabriggs looks most likely to be seen again next season in the Becher Chase in November.
Meanwhile, National runner up Oscar Time is available at industry best priced odds of 20/1 with WilliamHill.com for the 2012 National as the Martin Lynch-trained horse looks to go one better next year. He was also a 14/1 ante-post punt but couldn't quite find enough to overhaul Ballabriggs as the Waley-Cohen family missed out on a famous double. Owner Robert and his jockey son Sam guided Long Run to Gold Cup success in March and were hoping for Grand National glory as well but their 10-year-old was just short in the end.
2011 third place and 2010 winner Don't Push It again saved his best for the testing Aintree course as the 11-year-old competed in fine style once again despite topping the weights at 11st 10lbs. Jonjo O'Neill's former champion is also an industry best with William Hill at 25/1 but it will be a big ask for the veteran to match the likes of Ballabriggs and Oscar Time when a year older in 2012.
There was disappointment for Willie Mullins' The Midnight Club, who could only manage sixth after starting as 15/2 favourite. William Hill have priced the 10-year-old 25/1 for next year's renewal, although the Bobbyjo Chase will need to avoid the blunder that ultimately put paid to his chances this year.
There are also a few new faces available in the odds for the 2012 Grand National as a couple of impressive Cheltenham Festival performers enter the fray. Gordon Elliot's Chicago Grey was an impressive winner of the National Hunt Challenge Cup after starting as a 5/1 favourite. The 8-year-old was held up in the early stages but crept up and stayed on brilliantly to beat Beshabar by four and a half lengths, and is priced 20/1 for the 2012 National.
Beshabar is priced 25/1 after the 9-year-old had been prominent in the Challenge Cup, and the appetite the pair showed for the 4 mile trip certainly suggests they could be future National contenders, although the odds say Ballabriggs is the one to beat at this stage.
14/1 Ballabriggs
20/1 Oscar Time*
20/1 Chicago Grey
25/1 Don't Push It*
25/1 The Midnight Club
25/1 Beshabar
33/1 Always Right*
33/1 Junior*
33/1 The Minack*
33/1 Mon Parrain
33/1 Silver By Nature
33/1 Niche Market
33/1 Wymott
33/1 Big Fella Thanks
40/1 BAR
Odds supplied by WilliamHill.com, who provide a comprehensive betting service for the Grand National and all national hunt horse racing.
Posted: Monday, 11th April 2011
Author: Chris James
Tags: grand national, ballabriggs, oscar time, chicago grey, william hill,
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