Has Donald McCain Jnr. won the Grand National?

As far as the Grand National is concerned, the name ‘McCain’ will always be most closely associated with the late Donald ‘Ginger’ McCain, who saddled the legendary Red Rum to three victories, in 1973, 1974 and 1977. In 2004, with his glory days seemingly far behind him, McCain saddled Amberleigh House to win the Grand National for a fourth time, thereby joining George Dockeray and Fred Rimmell as jointly the most successful trainer in the history of the Aintree showpiece. McCain saddled his final National runners in 2006 and retired from the training ranks, turning over the licence at his stables, on the Cholmondley Castle Estate in Cheshire, to his son, Donald Jnr..

McCain Jnr. Did not make an immediate impact at Aintree, although he did saddle Cloudy Lane, owned by Trevor Hemmings, to finish sixth in the National in 2008 and eighth two years later. However, on an unseasonably hot day in April, 2011, McCain Jnr. followed his father – who watched on, calmly, but proudly, from the paddock – into Aintree folklore by winning the Grand National with Ballabriggs. Also owned by Trevor Hemmings, and ridden by Jason Maguire, Ballabriggs withstood a strong challenge from Oscar Time on the run-in, staying on well to win by 2¼ lengths, with defending champion Don’t Push It a further 12 lengths away in third place.

Which is Best Fixed Odds or Skill-Based Betting?

When gambling, an important question you need to ask is whether your wager is fixed odds or based on skill. There is an important reason for this because it indicates your chance of winning and losing.

Betting on slot machines, roulette, black jack, three-card poker etc are fixed odds. The odds are carved in stone and cannot change. The odds are less than the actual chance of winning which means you only win by luck.

In fact, the longer you play the more you will lose.

For example, the casino is paying less than the true odds for a given win. A roulette wheel has 1 – 36 compartments (and the zero) but pays 35/1. This gives the house a 2.7% edge. It is worse in the US as they have a double zero (5.25%). Your best chance of beating house edge on fixed odds gambling is to win early and put the money in your pocket and leave. The longer you play the more likely you are to lose.

Skill-based betting, in theory, gives you a greater chance of winning as you are using your knowledge against the layer who thinks they know more. In horse racing this gives an astute gambler a fighting chance of winning. Although, it should be mentioned that the bookmakers will not have their book (betting prices) at 100%. For most horse races the betting market will be around 118% SP (starting prices). So if you bet on every horses in a race, long term, you would lose. That’s why it is important to have a level of skill which exceeds the bookmakers edge and their skill level.

No easy feat.

Out of the two methods of gambling, skill-based is by far the best option.

What are the Benefits of Using Betting Exchanges over Bookmakers?

What are the Benefits of Using Betting Exchanges over Bookmakers? In the good, old days of gambling you bet with bookmakers.

In fact, I can remember my Dad going to the local bookies up the road, Fred Scotney, and you placed your bet and had to listen to the commentary. They didn’t even have TV coverage. It wasn’t until 1986 when Satellite Information Services (SIS) broadcast live horse racing in bookmakers for the first time.

The first betting exchanges hit the headlines in 2001. Betfair changed the way of gambling opening up the betting industry so individuals could bet and lay in essence any individual could act like a bookmaker.

Betting exchanges has afforded bettors and layers some freedom which conventional boomakers didn’t offer. For example, a gambler can bet and lay. This means individuals could trade on the exchanges. Also, outsiders in any given races are generally considerably bigger odds. A 33/1 shot with the bookies could be 100/1 on the exchanges. It also allowed gamblers to cash out if they wishes. Bookmakers have added this to their platforms as it is a popular option.

Betting exchanges have led the way and helped transform the traditional bookmakers to offer more in the way of promotions.

One of the greatest advantages of using betting exchanges over bookmakers is that even if you win big money your account will never be closes.

Bookmakers do not give this guarantee. In fact, many have been criticised for their practices.

From a personal view, I would much prefer betting with exchanges although there are occasions when a traditional bookies can be used as an advantage just as taking early prices which may not be available elsewhere.

Who is the most successful British Flat trainer?

The most successful British Flat trainer of all time is Mark Johnston who, since 1988, has been based in Middleham, North Yorkshire. On August 23, 2018, Johnston saddled Poet’s Society, ridden by Frankie Dettori, to victory in the Clipper Logistics Handicap at York; in so doing, he took his career total to 4,194 winners, thereby breaking the previous record set by Richard Hannon Snr., who retired from the training ranks in November, 2013.

Johnston began his training career in 1987 and saddled over a hundred winners in a season for the first time in 1994. Remarkably, he has achieved that feat in every season since, surpassing the 200-winner mark in 2009, 2010, 2012-2015 and 2017-2019. Indeed, in 2019, Johnston sent out 249 winners, thereby setting a new record for the number of winners trained in a single season – Flat or National Hunt – in Britain.

Johnston has never won the trainers’ championship, which is decided on prize money won during the season, and it would be fair to say that, compared with the likes of John Gosden and Aidan O’Brien, truly top class horses have been few and far between. Nevertheless, at the time of writing, Johnston has 26 Group 1 victories, in Britain, Ireland, France and Germany to his name. He won the 2,000 Guineas with Mister Baileys in 1994 and the 1,000 Guineas with Attraction in 2004.

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