Brother to Ballabriggs declared for bumper at Newcastle

On the day the weights for this year's Grand National are released Donald McCain has made a topical declaration for the bumper at Newcastle on Wednesday, with a brother to the 2011 National hero hero Ballabriggs due to make his debut.

Bred by Cathal Ennis, Ballasalla is a five-year-old son of Presenting out of the Little Bighorn mare Papoose, from the family of prolific Listed winners Hi Cloy and For Auction.

Ballasalla was first sold as a foal to John Bleahen for €22,000 before selling as a three-year-old store to Highflyer Bloodstock for €70,000, the second most expensive lot in the 2015 renewal of the Tattersalls Ireland August National Hunt Sale.

Ballabriggs is one of three winners out of the winning pointer Papoose, as well as his brother, the Grade 2-placed chaser Letterman, and Queen Of Mantua, a winning hurdler and chaser by Old Vic.

The mare has also produced a four-year-old brother to Ballabriggs and Ballasalla, who was bought by Ryan Mahon for £40,000 at Goffs last August, and a two-year-old colt by Flemensfirth who was bought by Garrynacurra Stud for €35,000 from Tattersalls Ireland in 2015.

McCain will be hoping Ballasalla can better the performance of the National hero on his sole bumper run, having finished fifth at Uttoxeter.