Heavy going and a planned morning inspection of Uttoxeter suggest this Midlands Grand National will be just as much of a slog as in previous years.
The 18 declared runners are exactly the sort of hardy plodders one would hope to find in such a contest and the winner is surely going to need every day of his summer break before being asked to go again. Game as West Of The Edge was when second in the Eider to a classy sort, he may well find this comes too soon, just three weeks later. So the suggestion is his stablemate Bob Ford (3.35) at a pleasing 16-1.
The winner of a notoriously taxing West Wales National in 2015 when with Rebecca Curtis, Bob Ford scored at Chepstow in October on his first start since changing hands. He had a sighter in November and has been given a break since early December, the benefits of which could show. Hainan and Milansbar are others who had hard races in the Eider but Back To The Thatch fell far enough from home for him to still be interesting.
1.50 Uttoxeter It took 20 starts for Sahara Haze to break her duck but she is very steadily progressive and can go in again against weak opposition.
2.05 Kempton One-paced on a drier surface at Ludlow, Vocaliser might be one to stick with here. Cheekpieces, left off since April, go back on in an effort to sustain his focus.
2.25 Uttoxeter Connections were toying with putting Big River in the Midlands National. This looks an easier option for a classy, if brittle animal.
2.40 Kempton The form of Azzerti’s latest win got a big boost last weekend when the runner-up bagged the Imperial Cup. Another extra quarter-mile looks perfect.
3.00 Uttoxeter With Harry Fry back in some sort of form, Overtown Express tempts for this return to hurdles. He has a beatable mark.
3.15 Kempton Tom George had a handful of runners that did really well at the Cheltenham Festival, in addition to his Supreme winner, and his Brandon Hill is of interest. He was beaten only by a handicap snip when he ran here last month.
Fontwell 1.40 Big Robin 2.15 Mr Muddle 2.50 Banjo Girl 3.25 Antony
4.00 Itoldyou 4.35 Magoo 5.10 Fizzlestick
Kempton 1.30 Sao 2.05 Vocaliser 2.40 Azzerti 3.15 Brandon Hill
3.50 Chosen Path (nap) 4.25 Gorsky Island 5.00 Soldier Of Love
Uttoxeter 1.50 Sahara Haze 2.25 Big River 3.00 Overtown Express 3.35 Bob Ford (nb) 4.10 Piri Massini 4.45 Cobajayisland 5.20 Whiskey In The Jar 5.55 Champagnendiamonds
Wolverhampton 5.45 Abe Lincoln 6.15 Cape Banjo 6.45 Captain George 7.15 Kion 7.45 Made Of Honour 8.15 Satchville Flyer 8.45 Final Attack
