Jim Dreaper and Johnny Burke could combine for a second consecutive Midlands Grand National success if Sizing Coal (4.10) can come good in the Uttoxeter feature on Saturday. The eight-year-old has managed a single career success to this point but there is clear potential for him to win a big pot one day.
Eleven months ago Sizing Coal made up five places from the third-last to be third in the Irish National. This race is half a mile further and it may well be that Dreaper’s immediate thought was to direct him here, where his stamina will be still more effective.
Sizing Coal was not seen until running third of 16 in a Navan handicap hurdle last month, just the sort of preparation that a shrewd trainer might choose for a situation like this. Even 5lb higher than he was at Fairyhouse last spring, Sizing Coal should have lots more to offer.
Saturday’s best bets, by Chris Cook
2.25 Uttoxeter: Jokers And Rogues took a couple of runs to show it but he has improved for the move to Kenneth Slack’s yard and the fitting of a tongue tie. He enjoyed a runaway success at Sedgefield last time and still looks well treated.
2.40 Kempton Expect to see Always On The Run go from the front here, those tactics having brought him success at Kempton last time on his second spin over fences. He was left clear by a rival’s late fall but had already done enough for the win and may resume his progress here.
3.00 Uttoxeter After a moderate effort at Newbury that may have come too soon after a previous outing Blameitallonmyroots scored here in January, beating a horse that won its next two. Oliver Sherwood’s mare has had a healthy gap since that outing and the six-year-old should again go well.
3.15 Kempton This consolation race for horses that missed the cut for Cheltenham Festival handicaps will be enormously competitive but who better to side with in such a contest than Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh? They combine with Townshend, whose fourth at Fairyhouse on his first run for the trainer looks pretty good, now that the third, Mall Dini, has since landed the Festival’s Pertemps. Townshend wears a first-time hood.
3.35 Uttoxeter The Ian Williams yard that had a winner at this week’s Festival has been in generally good form and Poker School could underline the point here. A step up in distance seems to have helped him and he is still handily weighted under the claimer who won on him last time.
3.50 Kempton A last-flight mistake knocked Atirelarigo back to third on his British debut here last month, his first outing for 15 months. He seems to have a very manageable rating in light of that effort.
Please post your tips or racing-related comments below.
