Donald McCain: Ballabriggs has run his final race

2011 Grand National winner Ballabriggs has been retired.

Donald announces that Grand National hero Ballabriggs has run his final race.

After a lengthy discussion with Mr Hemmings and his racing manager, we have taken the decision to retire the 2011 Grand National winner Ballabriggs.

He didn't sparkle in last week's renewal and it was decided that he had earned his retirement - he doesn't owe anyone anything - and he will be off to the Isle Of Man to join another of Mr Hemmings' recently retired stars Cloudy Lane.

As my first Grand National winner I will always be grateful for what he has done for the yard and that afternoon at Aintree will never be forgotten. He also won at the Cheltenham Festival in 2010 and he's been a brilliant horse for the stable.

Both he and Cloudy Lane will be sorely missed here but it's great that they are retiring fit and healthy and we will now have to crack on and try and find horses to fill their shoes.

Looking back to last week's National, I thought it was a very different race to that which we have become used to. 

The fences weren't as demanding as has been the case, hence fewer fallers, but all the horses coming back safe and sound was the result that both Aintree and the race itself needed.

It was still a fantastic spectacle and I was delighted for Sue and Harvey Smith who thoroughly deserved their big day. 

We've got a few lined up for the Scottish National meeting at Ayr next week and Our Mick is still bang on course for the feature race.

Everything has gone smoothly in his preparations but I am slightly concerned that he could end up having to carry a bigger weight than I initially expected. 

He's been geared at the race since Cheltenham, however, and I've been looking forward to him running over a marathon trip for some time.