Donald McCain: Tiger Roll wouldn't have jumped round Aintree in Red Rum's day

Donald McCain has claimed that Tiger Roll would not have been able to jump round Aintree if he had been running in Red Rum's era.

McCain's father Ginger trained Red Rum to three Grand National victories in 1973, 1974 and 1977, and Tiger Roll became the first back-to-back winner since then when he triumphed last year.

Speaking to the Racing Post as part of a wide-ranging interview for Sunday's newspaper, McCain said: "Is it the same race? No, not in a million years. What you have now is a horse that is the most efficient jumper of the new type of Grand National fence. He only gets three-quarters of the way up, he almost jumps them like a bullfinch. Could he do that round the old National fences? No.

"The race has changed beyond all recognition. You have to remember in those days it used to be 6-1 just to get round."

Tough guys: Red Rum and Brian Fletcher (nearest) clear an unmodified Becher's Brook on their way to winning the 1973 Grand National

However, McCain said he was delighted for Tiger Roll's trainer Gordon Elliott when the horse won again last April, adding: "Growing up I thought I'd be really upset when a horse won a second Grand National, but I rang Gordon the morning after saying well done and it was a great spectacle."

McCain does not have a Grand National runner this year, but is keenly awaiting the publication of the weights on Tuesday and does not feel the handicapper Martin Greenwood should show Tiger Roll any mercy.

"Red Rum was topweight every year after his first year," said McCain. "In the space of two years the turn around in weight with dual Gold Cup winner L'Escargot was 33lb. I know Dad would have been insulted if it had been any different.

"If they don't want to run, that's fine. No one horse is bigger than the Grand National, which is still the greatest race in the world. I'm pretty certain he'll turn up, though. The horse is absolutely great for racing and Gordon is doing a great job with him."

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