Grand National winning trainer Trainer Donald McCain has given a guarded welcome to the innovation of new plastic birch for the so-called "cores" of the fences at Aintree this year.

McCain is planning to bring 2011 Grand National winner Ballabriggs back for another tilt at the world's most famous steeplechase.

It was announced in September that the centre of the fences, which have traditionally been made of timber and protective rubber padding, would be trialled with a different make-up, more forgiving to horses, at the Becher Chase meeting in December.

On the day, jockeys gave an approval in what appeared to be a smooth change, with all the fences on the famous course looking outwardly the same.

Four obstacles were rebuilt with softer cores should the top spruce be knocked off during a race and came through their first tests with flying colours.

"It looks OK, but the proof will obviously be in the pudding," McCain said.

"Obviously some people don't think changes were really needed, but they want to move with the times and that's fine.

"The fences look fine and safe. In principle it looks good, but we'll just have to see what happens on the day.

"I think we have to be careful not to make the race too easy, as that leads to horses going faster and that creates its own problems, so we'll see."

The RSPCA has reportedly welcomed the move, with equine consultant David Muir describing it as "very much" in the favour of horse welfare.

PA AAP TURF