The Cheltenham Festival may have come to an end but the quality racing hasn’t, as Uttoxeter hosts its biggest fixture of the season on Saturday.
It’s Midlands Grand National Day and a field of 17 has been declared for the £160,000 event. These horses will be running over a trip of 4m2f and the going is currently described as good to soft.
There’s plenty to look forward to on the supporting card too so our expert has taken a close look at every race and picked out some strong fancies in each.
1.50 - Handicap Hurdle (2m4f)
WELLINGTON ARCH is a lightly raced and progressive novice who after finishing second in a Class 2 at Exeter on his first start over hurdles, went on to get off the mark on his next start.
He was firmly in control of the race from start to finish at Carlisle and won again under a penalty at Market Rasen recently. Making his handicap debut here, 120 looks like a workable opening mark.
Henry Daly runs BLENKINSOP here and he should improve significantly for his latest run, which was his first for 659 days. He progressed nicely as a novice and won a fair race off a 1lb higher mark back in December 2022.
SELECTION: WELLINGTON ARCH
NEXT BEST: BLENKINSOP
2.25 - Handicap Hurdle (2m7½f)
SAMUEL SPADE was a comfortable winner over just shy of three miles on good ground at Ascot last time out and the third has boosted the form by winning since.
An 8lb higher mark will make life harder, but he’s unexposed over the trip and should run well once again.
Another one to consider is Emma Lavelle’s GUARD DUTY, who had any amount in hand when winning on the bridle at Newbury earlier this month.
A 10lb rise means the handicapper didn’t miss but he’s clearly progressive and could be worth keeping on side.
SELECTION: SAMUEL SPADE
NEXT BEST: GUARD DUTY
3.00 - Midlands Grand National (Premier Handicap, 4m2f)
It has been an excellent season for Venetia Williams so far and she could have yet another Saturday afternoon winner on her hands with TANGANYIKA.
There are few better trainers of horses over marathon trips and this progressive novice shapes like 4m2f could be within his capabilities.
APPLE AWAY stayed on well when second to Famous Bridge in the Grand National Trial at Haydock last month and her consistent profile suggests she can run her race again, despite being pushed up 1lb by the handicapper.
SELECTION: TANGANYIKA
NEXT BEST: APPLE AWAY
3.35 - Novices' Handicap Chase (3m)
The Lucinda Russell team got on the board at the Cheltenham Festival courtesy of Myretown and she has another progressive novice chaser here.
WALK ON QUEST won well at Kelso recently and the handicapper has only responded with a 4lb rise, there could well be more to come.
DEFEANING SILENCE looked potentially very smart as a novice hurdler and even won a Grade 2 in that sphere.
Dan Skelton’s gelding took a few runs to get the hang of things over fences but eventually got off the mark at Warwick. Returning to handicap company here, perhaps a follow up victory is on the agenda.
SELECTION: WALK ON QUEST
NEXT BEST: DEAFENING SILENCE
4.10 - "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle (2m4f)
KING OF ANSWERS took a big step forward from his first start over hurdles and ran out an impressive winner next time. Lucinda Russell’s gelding seems likely to take another step forward and he could prove hard to beat if doing so, even with a 6lb penalty.
Newcomer THE JUKEBOX KID could be one to watch as the £130,000 purchase was an impressive winner of an Irish point before joining the Ben Pauling yard.
It’s been a great season for Pauling so far and it would be no surprise if this gelding makes a winning start to his career under rules.
SELECTION: KING OF ANSWERS
NEXT BEST: THE JUKEBOX KID
4.45 - Handicap Chase (2m4f)
There’s no standout contender in this race, so the lightly raced INTIMATE gets the nod. He was only beaten a length when finishing second at Hereford last time and the front two were well clear of the rest in the end.
Charlie Deutsch is on board once again and there’s every chance the pair can go one better this time around.
JACKPOT D’ATHOU managed to win a couple of novice hurdles last term and some poor performances this season have led to big reduction to his handicap mark.
If fences can get him back on track, he’s very well treated on the evidence of his best form.
SELECTION: INTIMATE
NEXT BEST: JACKPOT D’ATHOU
5.20 - Mares' Open National Hunt Flat Race (2m)
QUEENOFTHEJUKEBOX looked smart when winning a bumper at Wetherby by six-and-a-half lengths back in November and was far from disgraced when fifth in Listed company next time.
That form makes her the one to beat here and she should be bang in the mix.
Fergal O’Brien is always one to watch in bumpers and he runs debutante GIDGE here.
If she’s anywhere near as talented as her Grade 1-winning older sibling, the five-year-old will be capable of making her presence felt in this company.
SELECTION: QUEENOFTHEJUKEBOX
NEXT BEST: GIDGE
