Minella Blueway took another step in the right direction when winning the JenningsBet Novices’ Handicap Chase at Uttoxeter.
Evan Williams’ seven-year-old prevailed at Ludlow on his last start, taking a small-field handicap by 16 lengths as only two horses finished.
Up 4lb for that, he was a 13-2 chance under Adam Wedge and came out on top after doing battle with Eyed, the 11-4 favourite, in the closing stages.
“He’s taken a little while to get to grips with fences, but he seems to be getting more and more confidence,” said Wedge.
“Janet Davies has been with Evan since I’ve been there and she’s a fantastic supporter of ours, it’s brilliant to have lovely horses for her.”
Ben Pauling’s The Jukebox Kid made a neat debut when taking the JenningsBet “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle under David Bass.
The six-year-old was sent off at 4-1 on his first run under rules, though he did come into the race with some experience having landed a point to point by 16 lengths as a five-year-old.
His debut was a pleasing one as he crossed the line three-quarters of a length ahead of the runner-up, who was in turn 14 lengths ahead of the third-placed horse.
“I really enjoyed that, I’ve ridden him a lot at home as I’ve been going to Ben’s once a week,” Bass told Sky Sports Racing.
“He’s a racehorse, when the other one came to me he picked up again. He’s still plenty green enough so there’ll be more improvement to come.
“Ben has said all along that there’s something about this horse, he’s a racehorse and even going down to the start I thought he knew what he was here for.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2.79402948.jpg11722344Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2025-03-15 17:37:332025-03-15 17:37:33Minella Blueway continues progression at Uttoxeter
In a week of poignant and popular successes, Mr Vango continued the theme as he defied top-weight to continue his excellent season and claim the JenningsBet Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter.
Sara Bradstock’s nine-year-old took the London National at Sandown in December and then triumphed in the Peter Marsh at Haydock in January when defeating Iwilldoit by three lengths.
He is a strapping horse who has always been considered an out-and-out stayer, with the four-and-a-quarter-mile Midlands National providing a real test of his stamina.
The ground was not as deep as it often is at the meeting and not as testing as it was assumed he would need when starting at 11-1 under Jack Tudor among a field of 16.
He never looked outpaced, however, and travelled and jumped happily throughout under his top-weight burden to come home an impressive one-length winner from Tanganyika.
“He just doesn’t know when to give up, he gallops and jumps and just keeps going.
“He is much better than anybody thought, if you saw him at home you’d laugh because he seems to be slow!”
Mr Vango and winning connections at Uttoxeter (Nigel French/PA)
The Grand National at Aintree is the ultimate aim for Mr Vango, who will not make the cut based on his rating this time but will be campaigned with a view to doing so next season.
A good run there would only further boost his place in Bradstock’s affections, though he is already much loved after he put a smile on the face of her late husband Mark before his death in 2024.
“The dream is the Grand National but he won’t get in (this year), the ground will probably go for him this year, so we’ve got to do everything we can do persuade the handicapper to give us a chance next season,” said Bradstock, who was celebrating Gold Cup glory 10 years ago with Coneygree.
“He is very special because he really cheered Mark in his final weeks, he knew we had another good horse.”
Jack Tudor lifts the trophy (Nigel French/PA)
Tudor, who has ridden the horse several times throughout his career, added: “He’s great fun and he’s a great jumper.
“That ground was actually quite testing and he loves that ground, he just keeps going.
“I’m very lucky, I’m not connected to the team so I’m lucky they’ve put me up on the big day.”
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Red Risk returned to the winner’s enclosure with a valuable victory in the JenningsBet Handicap Hurdle at Uttoxeter.
The 10-year-old, who is trained by Paul Nicholls and was ridden by Harry Cobden, had not tasted success since November 2022 but had rubbed shoulders in graded company since and performed with credit.
Down to a mark of 137 after a long time running off higher ratings, the Middleham Park-owned gelding was able to nab victory on the line at 22-1 as he saw off 3-1 favourite Joyeux Machin.
“His last run was very good and I just thought off a mark of 137 he would have a chance,” Cobden told Sky Sports Racing.
“I wasn’t quite sure if he’d be able to win off that, but he ran really well and we ended up nicking the lot.
“We’ve come in with a wet sail after the last and done him (the favourite) on the line, I’m very happy with that.”
Harry and Dan Skelton combined to take the JenningsBet 200 Shops Nationwide Handicap Hurdle with new recruit Hidden History.
The seven-year-old was making his first start for the stable having previously been trained by Chris Gordon, and was the 11-4 favourite for the two-and-a-half-mile event.
He duly delivered, crossing the line three and a quarter lengths ahead of Wellington Arch.
“We didn’t know a great deal about him, to be honest, but he’s done everything very nicely at home,” said the winning jockey.
“He stays quite nicely, I rode him there to come home nicely and that’s what he did.”
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So, that’s Cheltenham over, but this Saturday there is still plenty of racing action as the ITV cameras head to Uttoxeterfor the Midlands National, plus they are also at Kempton for a jumps fixture.
As always, we’ve got all the trends and stats for all the LIVE ITV races – we hope they help pin-point a few winners.
Only 2 past runnings
Dan Skelton and Peter Bowen have won the race before
No winning favourite yet
Both winners carried between 11-9 and 11-10
Both winners aged between 7-9 years-old
Trainer Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole has a 23% strike-rate with his hurdlers at the track
Trainer Dan Skelton has a 20% strike-rate with his hurdlers at the track
Trainer Ian Williams is just 1 from 30 with his hurdlers at the track
Only 2 previous runnings
Dan Skelton and Kim Bailey have won the race before
No winning favourite yet
Both winners carried between 10-6 and 10-11
Both winners aged between 6-7
Trainer Anthony Honeyball has a 24% strike-rate with his hurdlers at the track
Trainer Dan Skelton has a 20% strike-rate with his hurdlers at the track
Jockey Jack Tudor is just 2 from 47 riding over hurdles at the track
Jockey David Noonan is just 3 from 53 riding over hurdles at the track
3:00 – Jenningsbet Midlands Grand National Chase Handicap (Listed Race) Cl1 4m1f110y ITV4
19/21 – Aged 9 or younger
19/21 – Had won between 1-4 times over fences before
18/21 – Carried 10-12 or less
18/21 – Had won over at least 3m (fences) before
17/21 – Won by an Irish bred horse
16/21 – Had raced within the last 8 weeks
14/21 – Had never run at Uttoxeter before
14/21 – Carried 10-10 or less
14/21 – Finished in the top 3 last time out
14/21 – Unplaced favourites
12/21 – Officially rated 135 or less
12/21 – Returned a double-figure-price in the betting
12/21 – Aged 7 or 8 years-old
10/21 – Came from the top 3 in the betting
6/21 – Won last time out
4/21 – Trained by David Pipe
3/21 – Won by an Irish-trained horse
3/21 – Winning favourites
2/21 - Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies
11 of the last 14 winners aged 8 or 9
11 of the last 14 winners were aged either 8 or 9
The average winning SP in the last 20 runnings is 11/1
5 of the last 12 winners were ridden by a conditional jockey
18/21 – Aged 8 or younger
17/21 – Carried 10-9 or more
14/21 – Returned 7/1 or less
13/21 – Came from the top 3 in the betting
13/21 – Had raced within the last 4 weeks
13/21 – Had won between 1-2 times over fences before
13/21 – Never raced at Uttoxeter before
12/21 – Had won over at least 3m (chases) before
12/21 – Placed last time out
11/21 – Aged 7 years-old
10/21 – Unplaced favourites
5/21 – Won last time out
4/21 – Trained by Harry Fry (4 of last 11 runnings)
3/21 – Winning favourites
2 previous runnings
Trainers Nicky Henderson and L J Morgan have won the race before
No winning favourite
Both winners carried between 11-6 and 11-8
Both winners 5/1 or shorter
Both winners aged between 6-8
Trainer Nicky Henderson has a 22% strike-rate with his chasers at the track
Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies is just 2 from 31 with his chasers at the track
2:45 – Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily Handicap Hurdle Cl2 2m5f ITV4
1 past running
Dan Skelton's Boombawn won the race in 2024
Trainer Philip Hobbs and Johnson White have a 40% strike-rate with his hurdlers at the track
Trainer Nicky Henderson has a 23% strike-rate with his hurdlers at the track
Trainer Olly Murphy is just 1 from 20 with his hurdlers at the track
3:20 – Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Handicap Chase Cl3 2m4f110y ITV4
4 previous runnings
Outlaw Peter won the race 12 months ago
All 4 winners aged 7 (1) or 8 (3)
All 4 winners carried between 11-1 and 11-6
Paul Nicholls has trained the last 2 winners
Harry Cobden has ridden the last 2 winners
3 of the last 4 winners aged 8
All 4 winners carried between 11-1 and 11-6
Trainer Ben Pauling has a 24% strike-rate with his chasers at the track
Jockey Ben Jones is 4-8 (50%) riding over fences at the track
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Apple Away will not be winning out of turn if she can claim top honours in the Jenningsbet Midlands Grand National on Saturday.
The Lucinda Russell-trained eight-year-old sent members of the Old Gold Racing syndicate wild with a Grade One victory over hurdles at Aintree two years ago, since when she has plied her trade over the larger obstacles.
Although ultra-consistent, Apple Away has managed only two wins from her 10 chase starts to date and will head for Uttoxeter having finishing second in her last three races, most recently best of the rest behind Famous Bridge in the Grand National Trial at Haydock last month.
Old Gold Racing’s chief executive Ed Seyfried said: “She’s a small mare but she’s got the heart of a lion, or a lioness I suppose. As Peter Scudamore (assistant trainer) says, what she lacks in size, she makes up for in sheer grit.
“A race over further than four miles should be right up her street and while the Scottish National is the target, we just felt that if the ground dried up by the time Ayr came up, we might not be going there expecting such a good run.
“We think she’s going to Uttoxeter with a really, really good chance. Lucinda had Mighty Thunder finish second in the Midlands National before winning the Scottish National and if I can find a bookmaker that will let me have a bet on the double, I might have a go!
“We’re really upbeat and really excited and I have to thank ARC (Arena Racing Company) as they’ve given Old Gold Racing members a great discount on tickets. It will be packed anyway and with plenty of Old Gold members coming along, the atmosphere should be like a football match.”
The likely favourite for the £160,000 contest is Ryan Potter’s Knockanore, who bids to follow up a runaway success in the Eider Chase at Newcastle three weeks ago.
“He was very impressive but has been put up 10lb – which is probably fair enough, but will make it tougher,” said Potter.
“In an ideal world, the race would be in a couple of weeks’ time as it’s quite a quick turnaround for a four-mile race, but he seems to be in good order.
“He stayed no problem at Newcastle but I don’t imagine he is an out and out slogger in heavy ground, so hopefully conditions on Saturday will suit him being good to soft, which is similar to Newcastle, and we’re looking forward to it.”
Invincible Nao is on a hat-trick for Gary and Josh Moore following successive winter wins at Plumpton and the former is looking forward to seeing how the seven-year-old fares over the marathon trip of four and a quarter miles.
He said: “It was the obvious race for him after his last win in the Sussex National. He could ideally have done with a bit softer ground I think, but he’s going further than he’s been before and the ground might actually help him stay better if it’s not too testing.
“The lad who rides him every day is very happy with him and he’s training well and he goes there on the back of two wins and in good form. In a valuable race like that, you have to take a chance and it would be good if he could run well.”
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Jingko Blue gave Nicky Henderson another reason to celebrate on his birthday with a promising chasing debut at Uttoxeter.
The five-year-old won his sole point-to-point start before joining Henderson, for whom he then won two of his three novice hurdle completions last season.
He was last seen being pulled up in the Grade One Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival when the stable were enduring a spell of ill health, but the recent form of the yard has ensured that episode is now but a distant memory.
Jingko Blue lined up an 11-4 chance under Nico de Boinville for his first performance over fences, contesting the 2025 Uttoxeter Annual Membership Now Available Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase against four rivals.
All of those had at least some experience of jumping fences and all were receiving weight from Henderson’s gelding, but neither that nor soft ground looked to hinder him.
He jumped accurately all the way round and only the 11-8 favourite Jagwar could go with him as the last fence approached, but when that horse slipped on landing the race was Jingko Blue’s for the taking and though he looked a sure winner anyway, the margin was increased to nine and a half lengths.
“I loved that, I was very, very pleased with that. He was great,” said Henderson, who turned 74 on Tuesday.
“He’s a good horse and that was a good performance, first time out as well, he was excellent.
“The ground is no problem for him, he goes in soft ground, he wouldn’t be the biggest horse in the world but he is very intelligent and a very intelligent jumper, I’d say.”
Of future plans for the five-year-old the master of Seven Barrows added: “We’re quite lucky to have so many nice novice chasers this year, we’ve a strong team and we’ll have to see how the rest of them go this week and think about where to send them all.
“Tony (Barney, owner) also has Jango Baie as well as Jingko Blue. Jango Baie was meant to go to Aintree on Saturday and now he’s going to have to go to Cheltenham on Friday and clash with Peaky Boy.
“We’ve got so many nice novices that it’s proving very difficult to map them out.
“Would he get three miles? I don’t know, possibly. You won’t see him again until the new year anyway, I’m sure, but that was a competitive race and I was delighted.
“It was certainly a brilliant way to celebrate my birthday, that gave me a lot of pleasure to watch.”
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This afternoon’s National Hunt meeting at Uttoxeter will go ahead as scheduled after the track passed a morning inspection, but racing at the Curragh has been abandoned.
Hopes of any turf racing taking place in Britain on Saturday hinged a second precautionary check at Uttoxeter at 7.30am. An initial inspection was staged at 2pm on Friday and while there was standing water in some areas, the track was described as raceable.
Officials announced a further precautionary inspection for raceday morning and were able to give the fixture the go-ahead.
The news was not so good in Ireland, with a Curragh card due to feature the Group Three Tote.ie Alleged Stakes abandoned due to a waterlogged track.
Brendan Sheridan, the IHRB clerk of the course at the Curragh, said: “Following a further four millimetres of rain in the last 24 hours, unfortunately we have to cancel the fixture scheduled at the Curragh today as parts of the track are just not fit for racing.”
The disruption could continue on Sunday, with meetings at Carlisle and Downpatrick subject to morning inspections at 7am and 7.30am respectively.
Tuesday’s Flat meeting at Navan has already been cancelled, while Hexham’s jumps card on the same day also looks in serious doubt, with officials calling an inspection for 7.30am on Sunday.
Looking even further ahead, officials at Leicester have announced an inspection for 8am on Tuesday ahead of the track’s scheduled fixture on Friday, with the course currently waterlogged and unraceable.
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Hopes of any turf racing taking place in Britain on Saturday hinge on a second precautionary inspection at Uttoxeter at 7.30am.
Friday’s jumps cards at Fontwell, Wetherby and Wexford all fell victim to the persistent wet spell, while Saturday’s card at Stratford and Kelso’s Premier Raceday were also abandoned due to waterlogging.
Officials at Uttoxeter staged an initial inspection at 2pm on Friday to assess the latest state of play and while standing water remains in some areas, the track was described as raceable, prompting the team to announce a further check for raceday morning.
A statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, read: “Following our precautionary inspection at 2pm, the track is currently raceable with no rain since 7.30am.
“We are optimistic that we will be able to race tomorrow, however, due to variable forecasts, we will be holding another precautionary inspection at 7:30am.”
Saturday’s Curragh meeting, due to feature the Group Three Tote.ie Alleged Stakes, is also subject to a 7.30am inspection.
Brendan Sheridan, the IHRB clerk of the course at the Curragh, said on Friday morning: “Following a further 6.5mm of rain overnight, the Curragh remains heavy and fit for racing. Having spoken with Met Éireann this morning, there is the possibility of a further 8-11mm of rain between now and 5.35pm tomorrow.
“However, we are also faced with the prospect of Storm Kathleen which has the potential to bring high gusts of wind through tomorrow. On the basis of the forecast for further rain, we will have a 7.30am inspection on Saturday morning to assess if the track remains fit for racing.
“Should the track remain fit for racing at that point, we will continue to monitor the situation and consult with Met Éireann in relation to the high winds.”
Saturday’s racing programme is completed by all-weather cards at Chelmsford and Kempton and the disruption looks likely to continue, with Downpatrick’s Sunday meeting hinging on a 7.30am check.
Tuesday’s Flat meeting at Navan has already been cancelled, while Hexham’s jumps card on the same day also looks in serious doubt, with officials calling an inspection for 7.30am on Sunday.
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Below The Radar could soon become a household name after enhancing his unbeaten record in the bet365 “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle at Uttoxeter.
Paul Nicholls’ six-year-old was picked up for €60,000 after two seconds in the pointing field, but he is yet to taste defeat under rules, supplementing a bumper victory at Chepstow with his second win over timber at the Staffordshire track on Saturday.
Sent off a 3-1 shot in the hands of Freddie Gingell, his proven stamina came to the fore in the testing ground, as even some untidy jumping was unable to stop him notching up a game two-length success.
“He had to be very tough and his jumping wasn’t quite there but he has done it easy enough in the end,” Gingell told Sky Sports Racing.
“He won a nice bumper at Chepstow and then went to Hereford and won a novice hurdle there and the form of that has turned out good.
“He’s won nicely here today and he’s a lovely horse. He probably isn’t the quickest in the world, he has just the one pace, and I think the ground probably suited him.”
There was a shock in the bet365 Novices’ Handicap Chase as Jonjo O’Neill’s Regal Blue put his best foot forward to score at 16-1.
Owned by one of O’Neill’s chief backers in Martin Tedham, the mount of Nick Schofield has proven rather hit or miss this season, but was on a going day as he relished testing conditions.
“He loved that ground and unraceable really suits him,” said O’Neill.
“He jumped away grand, Nick gave him a good spin and it all went well for a change.
“He’s really ground dependant and if he doesn’t like it, he just says ‘thank you very much, I have had enough’ – he’s a bit of a character, just like his owner!
“I thought he might have been beat at the last and in fairness to him, he battled away to the line and was going away again. I don’t think it is the trip that bothers him, it’s just the ground that is more important.”
Also relishing the heavy going was Gary Moore’s Jupiter Du Gite, who opened his fences account at the second attempt in the bet365 Handicap Chase.
A runner in graded company as a juvenile hurdler, the five-year-old was second on his chasing bow at Hereford in January and produced a fine round of jumping to oblige at odds of 11-2.
“He’s a tricky character but when things go right, he’s a very talented horse.” said jockey Niall Houlihan.
“I’m delighted for Alan Jamieson (owner), he’s had a few seconds and thirds recently, but to get Jupiter’s head in front will mean a lot to him.
“He’s a half-brother to Editeur Du Gite and he has lots of scope, but he still has to learn. At three out he was very brave but he was always going to get away with it.
“It was a pleasurable round of jumping and he got into a great rhythm and when it all works out for him, he’s a very talented horse.”
In a week when Irish trainers dominated proceedings at Cheltenham, it was no surprise to see the concluding bet365 Open National Hunt Flat Race go the way of John McConnell’s raider Lieutenant Mayne, with the 7-2 shot romping to a four-length success in the hands of Ben Harvey.
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Jordan Nailor enjoyed one of his biggest days in the saddle when steering Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Beauport to bet365 Midlands Grand National glory at Uttoxeter.
The 25-year-old has regularly partnered the Bryan and Philippa Burrough-owned eight-year-old and was aboard when landing the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase in the autumn of 2022.
However, having been narrowly denied in the London National in December and then disappointing when last seen at Warwick in the Classic Chase in January, the duo’s triumph in the £150,000 contest was the perfect way to get back on track.
Beauport wins the bet365 Midlands Grand National Handicap Chase! 🏆
Sent off at odds of 18-1, Beauport was always handy despite hanging to his right as he was forced to chart a wide path around the Staffordshire track.
Moving into the home straight for the final time, he proved the biggest danger to Emma Lavelle’s My Silver Lining on the front end and after jumping the final obstacle locked together, they held a slim advantage with Mr Incredible and Autonomous Cloud also staying on not too far behind.
But it was the Twiston-Davies runner who had most left in reserve at the end of four and a quarter miles, staying on strongly to the line as the petrol tanks of his rivals began to empty.
Beauport and jockey Jordan Nailor after winning the bet365 Midlands Grand National (Nigel French.PA)
It is of course not the first time the Burrough colours have been worn to National success and the gelding’s trainer hopes he could one one day follow in the footsteps of Corbiere and line up at Aintree for the Grand National itself.
“It was really brilliant and really exciting,” said Twiston-Davies.
“It’s brilliant for Jordan as he’s had a bit of a quiet season and it was great, we’re all really happy.
“Jordan has won a few big races on him before and it all went well on the day. We have no idea why he ran so bad at Warwick but it all went better for him this time.
“I hope it will be the Grand National one day. The owners had Corbiere and he will hopefully follow in his footsteps.”
Jordan Nailor with the bet365 Midlands Grand National trophy (Nigel French/PA)
Nailor told Sky Sports Racing: “He went so well and his jumping was keeping him up there, so I just sat and let him travel. It wasn’t exactly plan A.
“He’s such a nice horse and has given me some brilliant days in my career. All the thanks go to Faye who rides him out every day and Carl (Llewellyn) and the owners and I’m very, very happy.
“He tries every time and we’ve had an up-and-down season. He was good in the London National but apart from that he hasn’t been himself really. It is nice to see him win another big one.
“This horse has been with me since I was a 5lb claimer, so all the way through to now it has been a brilliant partnership. It means an awful lot.”
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Autonomous Cloud will bid to regain the winning thread when he returns to his beloved Uttoxeter for the bet365 Midlands Grand National Handicap Chase.
Fergal O’Brien’s eight-year-old got the better of Jonjo O’Neill’s reopposing Iron Bridge when scoring on this card 12 months ago and supplemented that victory when returning to the Staffordshire track on his seasonal return.
He was pulled-up when sent off 9-2 joint favourite for the Welsh Grand National over Christmas but connections are hopeful he can recapture his best form and provide O’Brien with his second victory in this valuable contest.
“I was disappointed with him the last day in the Welsh National, but we have trained him for this race and fingers crossed he will go through the ground,” said O’Brien.
“He loves Uttoxeter and has won twice there and placed there. He goes in any ground and hopefully he just needed to be freshened up. He’s not a big, strong 16’3 horse, he’s quite narrow and Chepstow took quite a lot out of him.
“We’ve been waiting for this race, so fingers crossed.”
Not content with dominating proceedings at the Cheltenham Festival, Willie Mullins will attempt to land one last big prize of the week with Mr Incredible, who has not been seen since unseating Brian Hayes in the Grand National last April.
Before that, he was building an admirable CV in staying contests, placing in both the 2023 Classic Chase and Kim Muir, and he is joined in the line-up by fellow Irish raider and 2022 runner-up Young Dev.
Farceur Du Large in winning action at Sandown (Bradley Collyer/PA)
Harry Fry’s Exeter scorer Ask Me Early arrives in rude health, as does Jamie Snowden’s Farceur Du Large, who bids for a hat-trick having done the military chase double at Sandown earlier this year.
Snowden said: “He came over from Ireland, where he had some good back form but his recent form was uninspiring.
“I suppose a change of scenery has perked him up and dropping back into those military conditions races probably helped.
“He won those pretty nicely and the handicapper has had his say and stuck him up 6lb for them, but we thought it was worth a shot at a bigger race now and see how he gets on.
“He will like the ground and like the trip and we will just see if he can continue his recent form or slips back into his old ways. But he is in good order and we go there hoping for the best.”
Classic Chase heroine My Silver Lining narrowly failed to double up in Haydock’s Grand National Trial and has the chance to fill the vacancy of stable star at Emma Lavelle’s Wiltshire base following the retirement of Paisley Park.
Guetapan Collonges was third behind My Silver Lining at Warwick and Charlie Longsdon feels he is a stronger stayer than when fourth in this event 12 months ago.
Guetapan Collonges takes another shot at the Uttoxeter feature (Tim Goode/PA)
“I’m looking forward to seeing him run and I purposely avoided some of those trials like the Eider and the Grand National Trial because of the ground and to keep him fresh,” said Longsdon.
“He was fourth in the race last year and hopefully he can go a few places better. He is definitely a stronger horse this year and I’ve put a tongue strap on him as he sometimes hits a flat spot in these big races and hopefully that will take that away, especially on the heavy ground.”
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls saddled Truckers Lodge to win this in 2020 and the admirable 12-year-old is back for his fifth crack at the contest in the hands of Freddie Gingell.
Truckers Lodge is a regular in the Midland’s Grand National (Steven Paston for the Jockey Club/PA)
“He is a standing dish in this race, won it in runaway style off a mark of 141 in 2020 and here he is back again for a fifth time,” Nicholls told Betfair.
“The heavier the ground, the more it will suit Truckers Lodge, who is only a few years younger than his 18-year-old jockey Freddie Gingell.
“I then ran him a bit too quickly in the Coral Welsh National after his fine win in the London National at Sandown. Truckers Lodge has had a nice break since then and is fresh and bouncing now. He has an each way chance with conditions in his favour.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/263683936-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-03-15 13:42:332024-03-15 13:42:33Cloud primed for Midlands Grand National tilt
Testing conditions will be the order of the day at Newbury on Saturday but no problems are anticipated if the forecast proves correct.
While more rain has fallen at the Berkshire track than was expected earlier in the week, no inspection is currently planned.
“We’ve had 45 millimetres this week, which is more than we were anticipating on Monday ahead of entries,” clerk of the course George Hill told Sky Sports Racing.
“We were expecting 25-35mm in total after entries but we’ve had more and we’ve seen a few tracks caught out already, but luckily we’re OK as we stand at the moment.
“The going is heavy, soft in places at the moment. We’re expecting 2-7mm, the forecasters are saying, but the heaviest of that will be this afternoon, so we’ll monitor that. It is due to finish by 5pm, so fingers crossed we only get what is forecast and we don’t end up with more, as we’re looking forward to tomorrow.
“I don’t think it will have a chance to get holding or tacky, I think it will ride as described or a little better, given we could have a dry 18 hours.
“The track is in very good condition, we’ve got fresh ground on both tracks and we vertidrained the track last week, which helped us out massively ahead of this heavy rain.
“Obviously, the Betfair Hurdle has filled for the first time in four years, which is fantastic, it’s great to have the Willie Mullins horses, they arrived in the early hours of the morning safe and sound.”
Unfortunately, Saturday’s meeting at Warwick has been called off due to a waterlogged track.
The fixture was due to feature both the Grade Two Kingmaker Novices’ Chase and the Listed Warwick Mares’ Hurdle, in which Cheltenham candidate You Wear It Well was set to run.
However, a total of 36mm of rain fell at the track on Thursday, leaving the course unfit for action.
Clerk of the course Tom Ryall said: “We had 36mm in total yesterday, it started about 4am and carried on through to midnight.
“When we came in this morning, parts of the back straight where it runs parallel with Gog Brook are waterlogged, as that was put on red alert last night, while the owners and trainers car park has flooded and that has spilled onto the track.
“We are basically about 50 per cent under water, so there is really no hope of racing.”
Uttoxeter were also due to race on Saturday, but that fixture has been abandoned.
The course is waterlogged, with further rain forecast.
Friday’s meeting at Kempton got the go-ahead after a morning inspection, while the other scheduled jumps fixture at Bangor was called off on Thursday afternoon.
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/270410407-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-02-09 12:44:192024-02-09 12:44:19Heavy going at Newbury but ‘track is in very good condition’
The New Year’s Day National Hunt meeting at Southwell has been abandoned due to a waterlogged track, but no obvious issues are expected at Cheltenham.
Southwell was hit by 15 millimetres of rain overnight, on top of 36mm since Christmas, leaving standing water in places and some areas of false ground on the bends.
Following no improvement throughout Sunday morning, and with further rain forecast, racing was called off after a 1pm inspection.
Cheltenham’s Relkeel Hurdle card is set to be run on testing ground but the track is in good shape to cope.
Clerk of the course Jon Pullin said: “We had 15mm overnight and updated the ground this morning to heavy, so far today we’ve just had another couple and there is nothing too much more in the forecast.
“There are still some showers around for today but nothing of too much volume and we should then be dry overnight and dry in the morning.
“There are some showers around tomorrow but most forecasts are suggesting heavier showers after racing – we might just get one or two lighter showers during racing.
“Certainly, at the moment everything is OK, unless we get any surprises later on, then we don’t anticipate any issues.”
An early decision was made regarding Wednesday’s fixture at Ffos Las, where there is also standing water in places.
The Welsh track received 31mm of rain over the last few days and 70mm during the past week, with the risk of another band to come.
Sunday’s New Year’s Eve jumps meetings at Uttoxeter and Warwick both had to be abandoned due to waterlogged tracks.
Each venue had called early-morning inspections due to poor weather forecasts and their worst fears were realised.
Uttoxeter was hit by a further 10.5mm of rain on saturated ground, leaving the course unraceable, with standing water in places.
Warwick brought forward their inspection following 20mm of rain overnight, which made it 54.5mm since last Monday and left the track waterlogged.
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/271898992-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2023-12-31 07:52:382023-12-31 14:20:08Southwell abandoned but Cheltenham all set to race
Uttoxeter’s New Year’s Eve fixture appears to be under serious threat after officials called a precautionary inspection for noon on Saturday due to the prospect of further rain.
In conjunction with the British Horseracing Authority, the Staffordshire venue has already abandoned the chases that were originally scheduled to take place, leaving a card comprising of five hurdle races and a National Hunt Flat race.
However, with the going described as heavy and some “small areas of standing water” on the track on Friday morning, there is no guarantee racing will take place at all at this stage.
Clerk of the Course Richard Fothergill said: “We’ve got a mainly dry day forecast today, but tomorrow is a challenge.
“Some forecasts are giving up to 20 millimetres of rain (on Saturday), which we couldn’t take. We need the absolute bottom end of the forecast to have a chance.
“It looks like a lot of rain is going to come after 12pm, but we’re going to assess it then, as we may have had a few showers in the morning.
“It’s a hugely supported raceday in the local community, so it’s such a shame. We’ll do what we can and give it every chance, but as I say, we do need the absolute best of the forecast.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/265938984-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2023-12-29 10:19:232023-12-29 10:19:23Inspection called at Uttoxeter
Wednesday’s meeting at Bangor has become the latest victim of Storm Debi, with officials left with no option but to call off the course’s most high-profile fixture of the season due to a waterlogged track.
The Wrexham circuit was due to stage a seven-race card featuring the Listed Yorton’s “Postponed” Mares’ Novices’ Chase and a handful of competitive handicaps.
But with Storm Debi bringing significant rainfall, there is now standing water on parts of the course and, with no prospect of sufficient improvement, the meeting has been abandoned.
Carlisle’s Monday fixture and a quality card at Fairyhouse on Tuesday also fell to the wet and wild weather that is sweeping across Britain and Ireland.
Fairyhouse was set to play host to the chasing debut of the top-class Gaelic Warrior, but torrential rain overnight has left the course unraceable.
Horse Racing Ireland later announced there will be a replacement National Hunt meeting at Fairyhouse on Friday, November 24.
Uttoxeter, which has been unable to host any racing since October 8, is hoping to stage an all-hurdle card on Saturday after an inspection of its chase track concluded that the two races over fences would be unable to take place.
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/267092451-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2023-11-13 15:19:122023-11-13 17:40:07Bangor added to list of Storm Debi casualties
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