15:35 Uttoxeter

Saturday 14 March 2020

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:2017:50

Marston's 61 Deep Midlands Grand National (Listed Open Handicap Chase)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 9m 49.8s

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Selected odds by:

De Rasher Counter⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Ben Jones⁽³⁾| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 157| C

8/1

Won the 3m novice handicap chase in heavy ground here a year ago and put up lifetime best when landing the Grade Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury in November. Outclassed in Grade 2 at Cheltenham last time but much respected despite top weight.

Form: 121-614

Dominateur⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: G Sheehan| T: O Sherwood| OR: 144

16/1

Useful novice chaser who won 4-5 prior to finishing third last month in Grade 2 at Wetherby where late mistakes cost him dear. Unexposed at this marathon trip and handles heavy ground.

Form: 11-F113

Joe Farrell¹⁰⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: Bryony Frost| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 142

12/1

2018 Scottish National hero last seen staying on into commendable seventh behind De Rasher Counter at Newbury in November. 15lb better off with that rival for around 17 lengths so has claims but heavy ground a concern.

Form: 62PP-37

Truckers Lodge^p⁷⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Lorcan Williams⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 141

6/1

Handles heavy ground well as he showed when second in the Welsh National at Chepstow in December off 2lb lower mark. Should stay extra 4f and looks a danger to all representing champion trainer.

Form: 21-2412

Captain Drake^p²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁵⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 138| C

7/1

Won here in the past over hurdles on heavy ground. Stayed on well over 3m at Exeter in January to land competitive handicap chase off 11lb lower mark. Was beginning to struggle when unseating rider last time at Ascot and has stamina to prove here.

Form: 2-07U1U

Christmas In April^p²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: R Johnson| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 137

11/2

Won Sussex National at Plumpton over 3m4f in soft ground off 14lb lower mark then bounced back from modest effort at same track to win Devon National in heavy ground at Exeter last time. In-form and worthy of consideration.

Form: 3-21131

Prime Venture^b1⁵³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 135| BF

9/1

Certainly worth a try at this trip having stayed on well over 3m6f when fourth in Welsh National in December in heavy ground. Things haven't gone his way last two starts but trainer won this in 2016 so knows what is needed. Blinkered first time.

Form: 49-44F2

Just Your Type^p⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: W T Kennedy| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 134WS

18/1

Second earlier this season over 4m in the Borders National at Kelso off this mark but was never going when pulled up in Grade 2 at Wetherby last time. Has had wind surgery so may bounce back now and will stay.

Form: 6F-122P

Potters Legend^p²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-1| J: J M Quinlan| T: L Wadham| OR: 132

16/1

Has had issues and lightly raced last two years. Solid third over nearly 3m4f at Cheltenham earlier in season but pulled up at Haydock after that and didn't do enough when third at Doncaster last time to suggest he's up to winning this.

Form: F1/53P3

Se Mo Laoch^p²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: M A Enright| T: B McMahon| OR: 131

14/1

Irish raider who revels in heavy ground and won comfortably over 3m at Navan last time. Gave impression he stayed at Punchestown last year when sixth over nearly four miles and no surprise to see him give a good account of himself.

Form: 401P41

Petite Power^t⁶³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: Liam Harrison⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 130| C

9/1

Stayed on gamely to win here in heavy ground over 3m2f in November and again ran well when third in Grade 3 Classic Chase at Warwick last time, staying on nicely over 3m5f. Goes well for his amateur rider and should be thereabouts.

Form: 9/7-1123

Sheneededtherun^t³⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: C J Todd⁽⁵⁾| T: S Allwood| OR: 128

16/1

3lb out of the handicap but comes here on a five-timer having improved 28lb over last four runs. Bolted up at Bangor last time over nearly 3m6f but 11lb higher now. Will do well to stay with them at this much higher level.

Form: P-21111

Very First Time⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 127

12/1

In good form winning three of last four starts at around 3m but weakened at Market Rasen penultimate start tackling 3m3f. Failed to see it out on previous attempts at around that trip so there have to be stamina concerns.

Form: 531141

Financial Outcome^t¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 117| BF

25/1

Landed modest 3m2f Doncaster novices handicap chase in January but well held both starts since at similar level. 14lb out of the handicap and no certainty to stay marathon trip. Hard to enthuse over.

Form: 344133

Non-Runners

Rathlin Rose²²

Weight: 10-0| Age: 12

T: D Pipe J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Christmas In April (11/2), Truckers Lodge (6/1), Captain Drake (7/1), De Rasher Counter (8/1), Prime Venture (9/1), Petite Power (9/1), Joe Farrell (12/1), Very First Time (12/1), Se Mo Laoch (14/1), Sheneededtherun (16/1), Dominateur (16/1), Potters Legend (16/1), Just Your Type (18/1), Financial Outcome (25/1), Rathlin Rose (50/1)

De Rasher Counter is the class act who handles the ground but goes into unknown territory at this trip. It would be a mighty effort to win in the mud under such a big weight. TRUCKERS LODGE seems to have been saved for this since his excellent second in the Welsh National in similar conditions off just 2lb higher and should go very well. Prime Venture, fourth in the Chepstow race, is a few pounds better off with the selection and first-time blinkers may eke out more improvement. Irish raider Se Mo Laoch and the progressive pair of Christmas In April and Petite Power are others who may well make their presence felt in a good renewal.