2011 Grand National stewards for excessive use of the whip on Ballabriggs. The horse's trainer, Donald McCain, Jr., indicated that he will likely return to Aintree for the 2012 National seeking the first back-to-back wins since Red Rum in 1974: "I'd have thought next season will revolve around the National and he may well go to the Becher Chase [in December] as well." 2011 Grand National The 2011 Grand National (known as the John Smith's Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 164th renewal of the world-famous Grand National horse race held at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase began at
Midlands Grand National Midlands Grand National The Midlands Grand National is a Listed National Hunt race in Great Britain. It is a handicap steeplechase and is run at Uttoxeter Racecourse in March, over a distance of about 4 miles and 1½ furlongs . During the race there are 24 fences to be jumped. The first race was run on 3 May 1969. The race was initially run over 4m2f and was increased up to 4m4f in 1977. During this period it would have been, assuming accurate measurements, by 24 yards or approximately the length of a cricket pitch, the longest race in the