Aintree knows House is hot property

The Grand National weights are revealed at The Savoy tomorrow, and one trainer with an unsurpassed record in the race, Ginger McCain, will be intrigued to see the mark his Amberleigh House is allotted.

McCain - Mr Aintree himself - sent out Red Rum for an unprecedented three National victories in the Seventies, and the 71-year-old handler has got "that old feeling" about his new star, who romped away with the Tote Becher Chase at Liverpool in November.

Ginger brushed away a tear as he ventured: "The old fella, who is buried by the winning post, will be proud of us if we manage to do it again. And believe me, we can."

Amberleigh House was knocked over at the Canal Turn in last year's National, but when he returned to the course in the Becher Chase, he beat Smarty - last year's National runner-up to Red Marauder - by two lengths.

At his Cholmondeley, Cheshire yard, McCain said: "Amberleigh was my first winner over the National course since Red Rum in

1977. I was beginning to think I had forgotten how to train.

"Since that win he has sparkled. He'll run in about a fortnight, possibly at Ayr over two-and-a-half miles just for a comeback, then Haydock and that's it before the National on 6 April. He is not a very big horse, but he rides bigger than he is."

Of course, Amberleigh House will inevitably be measured against Red Rum.

McCain said: "Physically he's not a bit like my hero, but he is very professional, just like the old horse was. This chap has been around a bit and he's had plenty of racing, learning to look after himself. He is like Red Rum in a sense in that he's a tough individual, who requires a fair bit of work. What I like about him is that when he comes back from the races he goes straight to his manger and tucks in.

"If you can't put the energy into a horse, you can't take it out again."

There will never be another Red Rum, according to Ginger, and that virtually goes without saying.

Red Rum is the only horse to have won the four-and-a-half mile race three times and the record seems set to stand forever. The sport of racing still abounds with famous names which have survived the years. Arkle, Nijinsky, Desert Orchid. All had a certain charisma which endeared them to the racing public. But "Rummy," knocked them into a cocked hat as far as popularity was concerned.