A lot of people that I speak to about horse racing, turn round and say "Ginger McCain", "he's the bloke that can only train one horse, useless the horse trained himself anyway". Now come on just exactly what sort of comment is that??

Are these people telling me that Red Rum jumped the Mersey Ferry from Ireland, trotted up and down the UK, until he realised that all he had to do was walk across the Irish Sea to get to Southport. And then every morning decided to take himself off for a gallop along the sands, in all kinds of weather and then wander off to these little stables behind a car showroom... - I don't think so. Not even Red Rum would have got up on his own accord and gone out in some of the weather that we had too, . All that I can say is that when I worked for Mr McCain, we did have some very decent horses, and as with everything else you do need a bit of good luck to be really successful.

Hallo Dandy was born in 1974, just around the same time as Red Rum was winning his second Grand National. By Menelek and out off a mare called Dandy Hall (Last Of The Dandies), Hallo Dandy arrived in Southport, I think, somewhere around 1976 as an unnamed 3 year old. He got the nickname Albie.

A lot of discussions go on behind closed doors in racing that result in Trainers and Owners terminating partnerships, therefore causing Owners to remove their horses and to look elsewhere for a Trainer. The stable staff don't know anything about it until the horse is due to depart, so the general public certainly don't know what's going on. One example of the last comment, is a horse called Hallo Dandy, now if this horse had stayed with us in the early 1980's Amberleigh House could well have been a fifth National Winner for Ginger. .

Hallo Dandy won a few races for us, before leaving the yard, for various reasons. No sooner had he left, he managed to qualifier for the Grand National. By this time the horse had also changed hands in owners. In 1983 Hallo Dandy went to Aintree, and ran a big race to finish 3rd to Cobiere, with Greasepaint finishing 2nd. On Saturday 31st March 1984 Hallo Dandy arrived at Aintree again, only this time he wanted better than 3rd place.

As the 1984 Grand National field jumped Bechers for the second time Hallo Dandy could be seen putting in a spectacular jump, which gained him sixth place and full of running. a couple of fences later Hallo Dandy and Greasepaint had gone clear of the remainder of the field. Over the last two fences Hallo Dandy jumped superbly, so by the time they jumped the last fence, he had gone two lengths ahead of Greasepaint. Hallo Dandy managed to win the National by a comfortable 4 lengths ahead off Greasepaint with Corbiere finishing third.

In the 1985 Grand National Hallo Dandy fell at the first fence, it was said that he had injured himself. I was disgusted to hear a few years later that Hallo Dandy been found dishevelled and neglected in a field. He is now being looked after at the Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre where he is enjoying his retirement. We went to see him a while ago and he looked well for an old gentleman of 30yrs old. He's 32yrs now and is the oldest surviving Grand National winner.

Hallo Dandy, the oldest surviving Grand National winner, who was in a poor condition when rescued and sent to the Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre in November 1994, was put down there on Monday 8th January 2007 on the advice of vets, having just turned 33 years old.

Over a period of more than 12 years with the Lancashire-based TRC, first at its original home at Nateby, near Preston, and then for 16 months at new premises on the outskirts of Halton, near Lancaster, Hallo Dandy became a flag bearer for the organisation run by Carrie Humble.

The story of his rescue from appalling conditions and near-death raised lasting interest in the Aintree winner. In 1986 he was retired by owner Richard Shaw, who described himself as "the luckiest man alive" after the 1984 National, since this was his first horse in training, Hallo Dandy was leased to Tory peer the Earl of Onslow, who hunted him for eight years with the Fernie in Surrey.

It was from Lord Onslow's estate at Clandon Park, near Guildford, where Hallo Dandy had been turned out, that he was taken in controversial circumstances into the care of Carrie Humble and her staff at the TRC. Then 20, he was - in Carrie's words at the time - in "a distressing condition." She commented that his back was covered in rain-scald blisters, usually caused by being exposed to heavy rain; he was lacking in condition and appeared undernourished, and his teeth needed urgent treatment.

Lord Onslow, who admitted that Hallo Dandy had become thin but said his condition had deteriorated inexplicably and denied accusations of neglect, had decided the gelding should be put down.

However, when approached with the news, owner Shaw, who was to die only a year later, decided otherwise, and he arranged for Hallo Dandy to be sent to the TRC.

Humble said: "When I was offered him I didn't think he'd survive, but he was a tough old character, and the last 12 years of his life have been bliss.

"It's been a huge privilege to have him around. I never thought I'd deal with a horse like him - a proper chaser, an example of what an old-style chaser should be. "As we trade bone and stamina for speed, and let temperament take a back seat, these old-fashioned chasers are fast disappearing.

"I'll never know another horse like Dan, and a bit of my soul has gone with him."

Gordon Richards' son Nicky took up Carrie's point, saying, "He was probably one of the last proper, old-fashioned staying chasers that won the National. He was a great jumper with a temperament to match, and a smashing horse to have around the place.

"He has had a very good home at Carrie Humble's centre, where he has been really well looked after, and he had a lovely retirement."