Donald McCain claims ‘a lot of other talking horses’ has eased the pressure on Ballabriggs going into the Grand National (14/1 Winner or E/W) at Aintree on Saturday April 9.

The trainer is hoping for a good performance from Ballabriggs as he chases a first success in the big race, having gone closest in 2009 when Cloudy Lane finished in sixth place.

And McCain, who is set to have Peddlers Cross run in the Aintree Hurdle, Sagalyrique feature in the Topham Chase and Desert Cry set to race in one of the Novice hurdles, is confident about Ballabriggs due to his current ‘good form’.

He told his Bangor Racecourse blog: “Ballabriggs remains in good form and will have a gallop at a racecourse before Aintree to get him spot on.

“It is pleasing that there are seemingly a lot of other talking horses in the race, talking themselves up the betting, as this takes the pressure off us a bit.”