The Betfred Midlands Grand National is a Listed handicap chase run over four -and-a-quarter miles. Run at Uttoxeter on the Saturday straight after the Cheltenham Festival, it’s a convenient stopping off point for Irish punters making their way home and as it’s the track’s and, arguably the Midlands, biggest race of the year always attracts a large and vociferous crowd.
Midlands Grand National Trends
Make no mistake, this is a race for out-and-out stayers. There has not been as much rain as normal in the West Midlands this year so the forecast going is only good to soft. However, plenty of the wet stuff is forecast to fall in the 24 hours prior to race time so may yet have the usual easy conditions.
Uttoxeter’s fences are not the easiest and the course is undulating. The Midlands Grand National is a real test of stamina, therefore, and it’s common for most of the field not to complete.
Generally, this is not a race for older chasers. No horse aged older than nine has won in the last 20 years and, if you rely on that fact, you’ve already narrowed the maximum field of 20 by half.
Only two of the last 15 winners have carried more than 10st 12lb, but they include last year’s victor Firebird Flyer, who only has a pound more to carry and actually races off the same handicap mark.
It’s a pity that Doing Fine is only first reserve. Connections will be praying for one of those above him in the handicap to develop a late problem as Neil Mulholland’s charge would appear to have a chance second to none in handicapping terms. He was an unlucky loser in the London National at Sandown in December and is set to carry only 3lb more. His claims are that obvious that he’s only a best 10/1, even though a run is in the lap of the gods.
Should the heavens open, Cogry would be a real player. His jumping is rarely foot-perfect but he’s likely to get his ground and will be staying on long after others have cried enough. At a general 14/1, he has to be worth an each-way bet as long as 3lb claimer Jamie Bargary can keep the partnership intact.
Mysteree, winner of the equally-testing Eider at Newcastle last month, is the current 15/2 favourite on Betfair and also goes on the short-list but COURT FRONTIER and Denis O’Regan looks a perfect combination – Paul Morgan’s much-improved nine-year-old can complete a four-timer and record his biggest success to date.
The penny has suddenly dropped with the Court Cave gelding but he does need holding up. No-one is better at settling a chaser than O’Regan, who will have his mount switched off out the back while others battle for the lead. Court Frontier wasn’t stopping over 3m6f at Huntiongdon last time suggesting he’ll last home over another half-mile if his stamina is preserved and he’s currently 9/1 on Betfair.
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Last year’s fourth Spookydooky could be the pick of the remainder as he carries 10lb less this time around. He travelled strongly for much of the way when third in the Devon National last month and could be about to hit top form again – Jonjo O’Neill’s charge is available at 12/1 with most bookmakers.
Betfred Midlands Grand National Current Best Odds
Mysteree (15/2), Court Frontier (9/1), Doing Fine (10/1), Spookydooky (12/1), Cogry (14/1), Firebird Flyer, Gevrey Chambertin, Mad Brian, Out Sam and Gonalston Cloud (16/1), Blakemount, Final Nudge, Warrantor, Goulanes and Houblon Des Obeaux (20/1), Benbens, Chase The Spud, Portrait King and Emperor’s Choice (25/1), Silver Man and Gone Too Far (33/1)
