Stoic Quinn ready for an emotional test of character

It is a test of character, the leading trainer says, that makes you see racing – and any setbacks on the gallops – in an entirely different light.

By his own admission, he was "frustrated to say the least" when a minor knock forced him to withdraw his stable star, Character Building, from last year's John Smith's Grand National.

After all, the gallant grey was in the form of his life, and vying for favouritism at Aintree, having won the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup weeks earlier at the Cheltenham National Hunt Festival.

Yet Quinn's response was far more measured when another minor niggle saw the 10-year-old miss his intended comeback run in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury – a race won for the second time by the mercurial Denman.

"What happened last September put things into wider perspective," says Quinn, referring to the death of his talented young apprentice Jamie Kyne, and his friend Jan Wilson, in a flat fire that shocked the racing community.

Stoic throughout, and determined that the stable should continue to operate normally as the riders would have wished, it would be entirely fitting with the National's tradition of throwing up emotional victories if Character Building was to win the world's greatest steeplechase in April.

The tears would flow as freely as they did in 1981 when Guisborough's Bob Champion defied cancer to win the race on the injury-plagued Aldaniti.

Victory would enable Quinn's closely-knit yard to remember their friend looking down from above and offering some divine inspiration. It would also help etch Kyne's memory into National folklore.

Furthermore, it would also be a fitting way to honour the 50th anniversary of the last Yorkshire victory in the National – Merryman II's triumph of 1960.

And, given that is 49 years since Nicklaus Silver was the last grey to triumph over Aintree's 30 fearsome fences, Quinn, for one, is hoping for a trouble-free preparation.

"His targets are the English, Scottish and Irish Nationals," said Quinn, based at Settrington, near Malton.

"Of course, he won't run in all three – but he'll be entered in them.

"My preference, after missing out last year, will be Aintree – but you have to cover all bases.

"He's in great nick and will be entered in the Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster early next month, and also a hurdles race on the same card.

"We'll take it from there – but the plan, in all likelihood, will be to go for one of the handicaps at the Cheltenham Festival, probably the William Hill Chase on the first day, and then Aintree."

In some regards, Quinn would like another crack at the Kim Muir – a race for amateur riders. Last year, Character Building – who is still lightly-raced with 19 career starts to his name – benefited from an inspired hold-up ride by Jamie Codd.

Settled to the rear on the 16-1 shot, Codd even had time to take a pull on the horse approaching the final fence before timing his run to perfection.

Rarely has there been a more confident ride at the Festival. As well as being the only Yorkshire-trained winner at Cheltenham last year, it provided Quinn with some consolation for Character Building's second place finish at the Festival behind Butler's Cabin, one of the favourites for this year's National and a possible ride for champion jockey AP McCoy.

Yet, while some were surprised by the ease of Character Building's Cheltenham victory, it should be remembered that this was the horse who was good enough to chase home Denman when the Paul Nicholls-trained liver chestnut, nicknamed 'The Tank', won his first Hennessy in 2007.

"I don't think he'll get in the Kim Muir because of his rating," added Quinn, who has 65 horses in his string and stable jockey Dougie Costello back from injury and available to ride Character Building (weather pemitting).

"I'm inclined to think he'll be suited by Aintree – he's such a good jumper – but, at the end of the day, it's just another horse race.

"I perhaps wouldn't have said that before – but it's how I view things now after all we went through last year."

TOMORROW'S fixture at Catterick has been abandoned due to snow on the track.

Officials at the North Yorkshire venue had intended to inspect at 8.0am today, but saw no need in delaying the inevitable.

Clerk of the course Fiona Needham said: "The thaw hasn't come in time I'm afraid. It was thawing but it stopped sometime yesterday afternoon.

"It's been 1C today but there is a wind-chill factor that is preventing it getting any warmer. Our next meeting is January 22 so surely it will have warmed up by then."

Warwick's meeting on Saturday is subject to a 3.0pm inspection today.