Donald McCain leads Trevor Hemmings tributes after three-time Grand National-winning owner died on Monday

Donald McCain has led the tributes to three-time Grand National-winning owner Trevor Hemmings, who died on Monday evening at the age of 86.

McCain trained Ballabriggs to provide Hemmings with a second Aintree success in 2011 following on from Hedgehunter (2005) and added to by Many Clouds (2015).

Having also had horses with his father, Red Rum's trainer Ginger, McCain explained while also losing a huge supporter, his family were mourning the loss of a friend.

"It was a huge shock. He'd been in touch fairly recently and he even used to ring my mum now and again just to keep an eye on her," said McCain.

"Obviously he was fantastic to me. Dad trained for him in his latter years but for me as a first-season trainer to have horses for Trevor Hemmings was a huge thing and he supported me every year through thick and thin for every year that I've been training.

"He's been a wonderful man for me and a lot of other trainers. He was very fair and while it's corny, he was just a gentleman. He was a wonderful supporter to me, you can't underestimate the reason why he was so successful and that is because he allowed you to train horses the way they should be trained.

"He was not just a great man but he was a great friend to the family as well.

"Cloudy Lane was the first good horse I had for him and Mr Hemmings bred him as well, we had some great fun with him even before Ballabriggs came along, he won at the (Cheltenham) Festival and was favourite for the National the following year (finished sixth).

"It was no fluke that he won three Grand Nationals, he allowed you to do the job, he never rushed you.

"He's a great loss to National Hunt racing but in particular the northern National Hunt racing scene, that can't be underestimated as he was a great supporter of many trainers in the north."

Oliver Sherwood described Hemmings as the "perfect owner".

He told Sky Sports Racing: "It was a real shock to get a text from David Minton (bloodstock agent) last night. He'd been in really good form recently, he hadn't been in any ill health, so it was a huge shock.

"We had some great days with Many Clouds and I'll be forever in their debt. Without Trevor's input I wouldn't have even run him in the National because I thought it was a year too soon.

"After his slightly disappointing run in the Gold Cup, Trevor said we had nothing to lose and the rest is history."

Reflecting on that National success, Sherwood added: "I won't forget that weekend for as long as I live. Trevor flew down the next day in his helicopter and celebrated with all the locals in Lambourn and paid for everybody to have a drink.

"It was a huge turnout in the centre of Lambourn, which will stick in my mind forever. We've still got a huge picture in our yard now of 'Clouds' in the square in Lambourn. They were very special days.

"Many Clouds was one of many good horses Trevor owned. I think he had a soft spot for all his National winners.

"Trevor would be the first to say he was a very lucky man to have the horses he did, but then he enjoyed the highs and knew the lows that came with owning racehorses. He knew the game inside out as well, which is very important.

"He was the perfect owner. He let us get on with it and knew we knew the horses better than anybody."

Hedgehunter provided Willie Mullins with his first and only victory to date in the Grand National 16 years ago under Ruby Walsh.

Mullins said: "We had a great day with Trevor Hemmings and Hedgehunter.

"It was a dream come true to win the National - it gave us one of the great days in my training career.

"He (Hemmings) was a man who it was an honour and a pleasure to train for."