Guest Feature: David Cummings' Midlands Grand National Tips
5 minutes Check out the latest horse racing tips from respected tipster David Cummings
With Cheltenham in the rear view mirror, the big races keep on coming and today we turn our attention to Saturday’s feature race, the JenningsBet Midlands Grand National, at Uttoxeter. Below you’ll find exclusive race insights and my horse racing tips.
The Midlands National, being one of 16 regional Nationals, was first run back in 1969 and is the most prestigious of these with the total prize pool of £150,000 where the winning connections receive just over £90,000. It is also a ‘Listed’ Class 1 event.
Remarkably no horse has won this then gone on to win the ‘big one’ at Aintree. With the Midlands National set at a gruelling 4m 2f and a short turnaround between races this perhaps comes as no surprise however some notable winners of this include the diminutive Bonanza Boy. Trained by the legendary and most successful trainer of this race, Martin Pipe. ‘Bonanza’ carried top weight of 12st in 1991, a feat that hasn't been achieved since. We also saw future Gold Cup winner Synchronised land the prize in 2010. We may not have that sort of quality here on show, however, this year's race remains as competitive as ever with 17 runners going to post.
15:00 Uttoxeter
Knockamore heads the current market under excellent claimer, Freddie Mitchell (claiming 5lb). Campaigned primarily over shorter trips where he had shown modest form until last time out tackling 4m 1f in the Eider Chase where he dismantled his field winning by 16l. Hiked up 10lbs in the weights but assuming that race hasn’t taken too much out of him he could make his presence felt again here as is totally unexposed over this marathon trip. The ground appears to suit and he had Passing Well 17l behind in third. This one has had a steady season without getting his head in front but has also shown his ability to handle a longer trip. He does get an 11lbs pull with Knockamore which may throw them closer together and is a course winner however the ease of the former’s victory suggests there is more to come.
Anglers Crag who was well fancied for the above Eider and a repeat success ran loose before the start and subsequently was pulled out of the race. He has had a light campaign this time around and will come into this fresher than most, showing his best form of the season last time in the Edinburgh National finishing fourth. A big run could be on the cards for each-way backers at around 16/1.
Antepost favourite Mr Vango is currently a market drifter which is likely attributed to the drying ground forecast however there has been a lot to like about this one’s performances of late, including when making all last time for a career best win at Haydock. Mr Vango is one to take seriously as this lightly raced horse appears to still be improving although will bear top weight which hasn’t been carried in this race since 1991. With this in mind we’ll tentatively pass over on this one.
There has been an outpouring of money on the Gordon Elliott-trained Fortunedefortunata. Backed into 7/1 from 16/1, he won a 3m 3f handicap last time when returned to fences where the mud was flying at Punchestown. That was his handicap debut and has been raised 10lbs for that but won with plenty in hand. Has done most of his winning on soft ground although did win on good to soft on debut. The Gordon Elliott form is slightly disconcerting as it took the final race on Day 4 for his first winner at Cheltenham but it will be interesting to see whether the market support continues.
Apple Away (2nd) Val Dancer (3rd) and Galia Des Liteaux (5th) are all fairly closely matched after their recent outing in the Grand National trial at Haydock in a race won by Famous Bridge. Galia Des Liteaux’s finished 8th in the 2024 Grand National and perhaps more was expected last time after a couple of low key efforts to start the season. However he didn’t shape too badly and may appreciate a further drop in the weights. Val Dancer has already boasted his staying credentials with a fabulous win in the Welsh equivalent and arguably showed better form again last time at Haydock. Running off his proper mark today having been 6lbs out of the handicap last time he may still have a bit more to offer although only one horse in recent times (Potters Corner) has done the double in both Nationals. However, it's Apple Away that finished ahead of both that day and gave the impression this new trip could well be within reach that I think will land this valuable prize. Lucinda Russell remains in good form with an all the way winner at Cheltenham on Tuesday and is no stranger to getting one ready for a National. Having lost positions in this race at Haydock he rallied to get within 3 lengths of the winner and there are no concerns on the ground. He has shown great consistency this season and deserves to land a good prize.
Others to mention are Egbert who fell in Knockamore’s Eider win when in a held third (cheek pieces go on) the Nicholls/Cobden combo of Ioupy Collonges who is unexposed over fences, however we’re taking his stamina on trust as unraced beyond 3m 1f and Iron Bridge in the colours of the late Trevor Hemmings who won the race in 2023 with Major Dundee. Definitely has the credentials for a race of this type although has to put a desperately poor effort behind him in the Welsh National.
JenningsBet Midlands Grand National Tips
| Horse | Odds | |
|---|---|---|
| Selection | Apple Away | 9/2 |
| Danger | Knockamore | 7/2 |
| Each-Way | Anglers Crag | 22/1 |
