Midlands Grand National: Spud can prove at home in the mud

Saturday’s Midlands Grand National, run over more than three circuits of Uttoxeter, is one of the supreme staying tests of the season over fences. In distance, it is less than a furlong shorter than the Grand National itself nowadays, while ground softer than good is the norm, making it a thorough test of stamina.

One who has proven both his stamina and ability to handle testing conditions in recent weeks is last month’s Eider winner Mysteree who is vying for favouritism, if not outright market leader, in most lists. Going into the Newcastle race after a break, Mysteree was winning for the second time this season from just three starts since joining Michael Scudamore, following another win in the mud over a long distance at Haydock in November. However, he’ll have to defy a career-high mark if he’s to follow up, and will have had only three weeks to recover from his exertions in the Eider.

Progressive types are thin on the ground among the Midlands National entries, but one who comes into that category is the Paul Morgan-trained Court Frontier who has completed a hat-trick since the turn of the year, the middle leg coming over hurdles. He improved again to land what proved an uncompetitive affair back over fences at Huntingdon last time over three and three-quarter miles, but another 8 lb hike in his official mark makes this his biggest test yet.

Of those towards the head of the betting, the one who makes most appeal is Doing Fine who’ll be fresher than most after a break since early-December. Doing Fine hasn’t won since his chasing debut in the autumn of 2014, but he shaped as though retaining all his ability on just his second start since joining Neil Mulholland when going down by a neck to Rocky Creek in the London National at Sandown when his jumping looked more assured than it has been in the past. That’s another positive for a horse who wouldn’t be inconvenienced as much as some if conditions did dry out a little over the week.

Mulholland could also be represented at longer prices by another who’s had just two starts for the yard. Goulanes was a well-backed winner of the Midlands National in 2014 (when with David Pipe) but hadn’t been seen again until pulled up in the Welsh National in December. He also failed to complete in his only start since (fell when supported for a veterans chase at Newbury recently) but is potentially well handicapped on his old form.

Another former winner who could line up again is Firebird Flyer, though he was fortunate when successful twelve months ago and hasn’t offered much encouragement of late. More interesting, though, are last year’s third and fourth, Cogry and Spookydooky, whose respective trainers Nigel Twiston-Davies and Jonjo O’Neill have been successful in the Midlands National in the past. Cogry was completing over fences for the first time since Uttoxeter last year when third at Sandown last time (won off a lower hurdles mark at Cheltenham in January), while Spookydooky’s close third to Kingswell Theatre in the Devon National at Exeter last time was easily his best effort of the season.

Jonjo O’Neill has another entry in the 2015 Devon National winner Catching On who has a score to settle after falling when all the rage for this race two years ago. He’s lower in the weights now and won over hurdles at Warwick last time when tongue tied for the first time, though he’s run more bad races than good ones over the last few years.

Goulanes had been David Pipe’s fourth Midlands National winner in a row, and he has a number of possibles again for Saturday’s race. None holds first-rate claims, but Gevrey Chambertin could be his best chance. He’s not the most reliable, but isn’t badly handicapped at present and does seem in better form of late, still in touch when unseating in the Eider last time. Out Sam also failed to complete in the Eider, though he effectively lost all chance when badly hampered at the first and still has untapped potential over staying trips.

Another who’s still unexposed given a thorough test is Fergal O’Brien’s Chase The Spud who handles testing conditions and makes plenty of appeal each-way. He was second to Mysteree at Haydock in November trying to concede the winner plenty of weight but now meets that rival on almost a stone better terms. His two starts since haven’t been as good, but he did shape as though a return to a marathon trip would suit when a keeping-on fifth to Blakemount at Carlisle last time and can return to form here back off the same mark as at Haydock.

Recommendation:

Back Chase The Spud each-way at 25/1 for the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter