2012 Grand National by Ginger McCain, the father of Ballabriggs' trainer Donald McCain, Jr. Among the early favourites for the race – alongside Ballabriggs – were Junior (trained by 2008's winning trainer David Pipe), Synchronised (the winner of the Lexus Chase on 28 December 2011 and later the 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup), Weird Al (winner in the October 2011 Charlie Hall Chase), and Midnight Chase (first in the Cotswold Chase on 4 February 2012). Synchronised was attempting to become the first horse since Golden Miller in 1934 to win both the Gold Cup and Grand National in the same year. Handicap weights were
1995 Grand National a total prize fund shared through the first five finishers of £200,000. A maximum of 40 competitors was permitted but only 35 ran. All of the horses that took part returned safely. Master Oats had carried all before him since falling in the 1994 Grand National and was installed as 5/1 favourite after winning the Welsh Grand National in December, before winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March. He was bidding to be the first horse to win the Gold Cup and Grand National in the same season for 61 years but handicapped with the top weight of 11 stone