Racing: McCain is so proud of House

Ginger McCain rolled back the years to make a triumphant return to the track as Amberleigh House sprang a surprise in the Becher Chase yesterday.

The trainer, famous for landing the Grand National three times with Red Rum, is now dreaming of a fourth triumph in the world's most famous chase with the gelding, who made a mockery of odds of 33-1.

The favourite, Smarty, a remote second to Red Marauder in the Grand National in April, looked set to go one place better when he held a clear lead after the last fence.

But Warren Marston had timed his run to perfection on Amberleigh House, who took the lead with 200 yards to go in the three miles, three furlongs contest and stayed on strongly to score by two lengths.

An emotional McCain, 71, was landing his first win over the big fences since Red Rum's third National triumph in 1977. He was cheered into the winner's enclosure and said: "I do love this place – I would run a ruptured hen here! There's not a course in the country I'd sooner have a winner at."