KNOCKANORE can secure victory in the JenningsBet Midlands Grand National (Handicap Chase) (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (3.15pm) at Uttoxeter on Saturday afternoon.
After the highs of this week's Cheltenham Festival the 'Grand National' season gets under way with the Midlands Grand National, followed in two weeks by the big one – the Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse, and the Irish and Scottish versions later next month.
The Midlands version is always a gruelling contest run over 4m1f usually in soft conditions. It doesn’t appear to be as testing this time, but you need a real dour stayer to triumph. The massive Mr Vango is just that but Sara Bradstock’s nine-year-old – who won the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock Park in January – has a tough task to win. He would prefer it softer and with top weight of 12st may not quite be able to land a third straight victory.
With that in mind Ryan Potter’s Knockanore makes plenty of appeal, carrying more than a stone in weight less than Mr Vango. The eight-year-old is one of only a couple of horses in the field who has shown he can stay this sort of distance, having won the extended 4m1f Eider Chase at Newcastle last month, building on the progress he had shown in six starts over fences.
He was a superb winner, tracking the leaders before hitting the front four from home and scoring by 16 lengths from an in-form O’Connell. The Eider was run over similar good to soft conditions he is likely to encounter at Uttoxeter and everything looks ideal for Knockanore to triumph.
The gelded son of Shantou had progressed well over shorter distances, winning at this track over 2m4f in November before finishing third twice at Uttoxeter and Market Rasen, the latter in January over three miles behind Hughie Morrison’s Eyed. But the step up to extreme distances in the Eider brought out the best in him and Knockanore can win again.
Others who may be able to stay on to be involved in the finish at Uttoxeter are Gary and Josh Moore’s Invincible Nao – a winner of the Sussex National at Plumpton last month; the aforementioned Mr Vango; the Ryan Potter-trained Anglers Crag – who won the Eider Chase over a similar distance last year; and Tanganika – from the Venetia Williams’ stable.
READ MORE: Latest entries and weights for the 2025 Randox Grand National
RED DIRT ROAD can bring up a hat-trick of victories in the Jennings Bet Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.25m). The AJ and Jonjo O’Neill-trained eight-year-old is thriving at present and can land a third straight success in the extended 2m7f handicap hurdle. Red Dirt Road came through the fog to win by four lengths in a 2m4f contest at Aintree on Boxing Day to open his account for the season.
He was even better when stepping up to this distance, scoring by eight lengths from another last-time-out winner Henri The Second at Sandown at the start of last month. He is up 14lb in the handicap since his first win of the season but he is in the form of his life and looks like he is progressing as well. This longer distance seems to be the key and he can bring up the hat-trick.
Another hat-trick-seeking contender, EYED, can also bring up his treble in the Jennings Bet Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (3.35pm). Hughie Morrison’s eight-year-old has already won three times this season. He did fall at Lingfield in December but has bounced back well to win Market Rasen over three miles – where he had the aforementioned Knockanore eight lengths back in third – and doubled up in style at Kempton. He is another in fine form and can make it three-in-a-row ahead of chiefly Dan Skelton’s Deafening Silence.
Skelton may land the opener in the JenningsBet 200 Shops Nationwide Handicap Hurdle (1.50pm) with HIDDEN HISTORY. The seven-year-old has only won once in four starts over obstacles at Lingfield last February. He was second when stepped up to 3m2f at Fontwell on Boxing Day and back down in distance to 2m4f he can return to winning ways.
Ditcheat handler Paul Nicholls grabbed a 50th Cheltenham Festival winner with Caldwell Potter in the late John Hales' colours this week and THE BLUESMAN can give him another winner in the JenningsBet “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (4.10pm). The six-year-old made a winning debut over obstacles at Chepstow in November, having won a bumper at the same track last April. He can make it two from two over hurdles following a short break.
Venetia Williams’ INTIMATE can go one better than when second at Hereford last month to land a first victory of the season in the JenningsBet Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (4.45pm).
Merseyside-born, Cheshire-based Donald McCain’s MOUTHSHUTEYESOPEN – who triumphed in a point-to-point – can make a winning debut Under Rules in the JenningsBet Mares’ Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race) (5.20pm).
At Kempton Nicholls’ OUTLAW PETER can the Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (3.20pm) for a third successive season. The nine-year-old is 8lb higher in the handicap than for last year’s win but this has most likely been his chief target of the season. He has only run once when ninth at Aintree in November. But off a break, he can score in a race he clearly enjoys.
It could be a good day for Nicholls at Kempton and IRISH HILL can also win the Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.45pm). The seven-year-old has been running well all season and has won twice at Plumpton in November and at Warwick on his recent start last month. He can go in again.
Nicholls’ QUEBECOIS could bring up a hat-trick for the stable in the Virgin Bet Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (3.57pm).
Others who can score at Kempton are Nicky Henderson’s TIMETOSHINE – a winner at Huntingdon last month on his hurdling debut – in the Virgin Bet Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Herring Queen Series Qualifier) (GBB Race) (1.37pm); Seven Barrows' stable-mate FIRST STREET in the Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (2.10pm); and the Alan King-trained THE DOYEN CHIEF in the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap Chase (Challenger Staying Chase Ser’s Qualifier) (GBB Race) (4.32pm).
At Newcastle the McCain-trained BO CRUZ can win the Guinness At Rio’s Handicap Hurdle (2.37pm). While Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith’s CERENDIPITY can take the Chase At Victors Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (3.12pm); and PAY THE PIPER, from the Ann Hamilton stable can triumph in the Smirnoff At Spy Bar Handicap Hurdle (3.47pm).
Wright Ones
UTTOXETER
1.50pm Hidden History
2.25pm Red Dirt Road (NAP)
3pm Knockanore
3.35pm Eyed
4.10pm The Bluesman
4.45pm Intimate
5.20pm Mouthshuteyesopen
KEMPTON
1.37pm Timetoshine
2.10pm First Street
2.45pm Irish Hill
3.20pm Outlaw Peter
3.57pm Quebecois
4.32pm The Doyen Chief
5.07pm Night Ride Home
NEWCASTLE
1.27pm Matwana
2.02pm Jet Of Dreams
2.37pm Bo Cruz
3.12pm Cerendipity
3.47pm Pay The Piper
4.22pm Jamesieconn
4.57pm Hunters Spring
SOUTHWELL
4.03pm Moon Over The Sea
4.38pm Gemmari
5.13pm Top Of The Class
5.45pm Joseph
6.15pm Saxonia
6.45pm Blue Lakota
7.15pm One More Dream
WOLVERHAMPTON
5.30pm Plage De Havre
6pm Rosenpur
6.30pm Come On John
7pm Kinswoman
7.30pm May Remain
8pm Bay Of Dreams
8.30pm Cosmic View
SUNDAY'S NAP: Lagonda (Market Rasen 4.32pm)
