Over a glass of Scotch, how the plan was hatched for McCain, O’Sullevan and Red Rum to become Grand National darlings

These were legendary broadcaster Sir Peter O’Sullevan’s stirring words as the heroic Red Rum overhauled the valiant Crisp 40 years ago to win the most famous Grand National of all time.

As long-time leader Crisp, the Australian-bred chaser ridden by Richard Pitman, rolled around like a drunk staggering out of the pub after last orders, Red Rum emerged from a different county to snatch victory on the line under Brian Fletcher.

It was the first of a record three Grand Nationals, plus two second-place finishes, in a five year span that saw the horse, his Southport taxi driver trainer Ginger McCain and O’Sullevan, the ‘voice of racing’, become household names.

Defeat still hurts Pitman. With this Saturday’s race being shortened by half a furlong as part of Aintree’s safety modifications, he responded by saying: “Forty years too late.”

That heartbreak final furlong after 30 fearsome fences – scene of last year’s epic duel between Neptune Collonges and Don’t Push It – is where the world’s most arduous steeplechase is won and lost.

Yet, without McCain bidding 6000 guineas at the Doncaster Sales in 1972 so he could take Red Rum from Yorkshire to Southport where the salt water would soothe the horse’s fragile legs on the morning gallops and prolong his career, it is doubtful that this rags-to-riches chaser would have achieved such greatness.

Born in Ireland in 1965, Red Rum – so called because the six letters spell out the word ‘murder’ in reverse – was acquired by Leicestershire trainer Tim Molony to run on the Flat, including a race at Pontefract when partnered by one Lester Piggott.

After a protracted saga, this unpromising Flat horse was bought by Lurline Bortherton, owner of the 1950 National hero Freebooter, and sent to Bobby Renton’s Oxclose stables near Ripon.

One of Renton’s riders was a young amateur by the name of Tommy Stack who would later partner Red Rum to his historic third National in 1977.

He was far from complimentary when he rode the young horse on the gallops: “He was always on his toes, jogging around the place. He was not the nicest horse to be riding out.”

Stack was even less impressed when he was ordered by Renton to ride the horse in a novice chase at Newcastle after refusing at a fence on the gallops. The five-year-old did not put a foot wrong, finishing a creditable third. The Red Rum story was off and running.

Yet it was when ‘Rummy’ finished fifth in the 1971 Scottish National that he caught McCain’s shrewd eye.

“That was the form that stuck in my mind when I was going through the catalogue for the Doncaster sales in the summer of 1972,” wrote McCain in his candid autobiography My Colourful Life.

“Stack was riding for a good friend of mine, Sam Wareing, and Stan suggested I ring Tommy and ask him about the horse. Tommy said the horse was an all right sort, but a bit ‘footy’. Coming from an Irishman, that could cover a hundred things.”

McCain also knew that Red Rum’s earlier victory in a Catterick steeplechase meant he was qualified for the National as he phoned flamboyant businessman Noel Le Mare who wanted to own an Aintree champion.

As the pair drank Scotch, Le Mare reached for a pen and wrote a note that read: “I hereby authorise Ginger McCain to go to the sum of up to seven thousand guineas for the horse Red Rum.”

Days later and McCain was perched on his balcony vantage point by the Doncaster sales ring as Red Rum came under the auctioneer’s hammer. A car salesman by trade, he waited as the price crept up to 4,600 guineas.

He then immediately raised his hand and upped the stakes to 6,000 guineas in an instant. Auctioneer Harry Beeby looked bemused as McCain mouthed the word ‘S-I-X’.” No one followed suit. Seconds later and he had his horse.

“A few hours later, we pulled up outside the car showroom, dropped the ramp and led Red Rum into his new home,” added McCain.

“How could we have possibly known that this lovely bay horse would change our lives for ever?”

McCain was to win a fourth National in 2004 with Amberleigh House before his son Donald, who grew up with Red Rum, won the race two years ago with Ballabriggs who bids for a second success this Saturday.

McCain senior passed away in September, 2011, but he will always be known as ‘Mr Aintree’ and one tradition will be maintained on National day – red flowers, and Polo mints will be placed on Red Rum’s grave that is nestled by the winning post where he won the nation’s hearts back in 1973 and broke Crisp’s spirit.

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