Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter

after the excitements of Cheltenham, today´s racing is very much an anti-climax and for a Saturday very low-level indeed. The only exception is the Midlands Grand National over 4 miles 1 1/2 furlongs at 16.00 CET at Uttoxeter. With 17 runners, this is a very open affair and obviously stamina is the major requirement. One who certainly fulfils this is top-weight Synchronised (Jonjo O´Neill/ Tony McCoy), who won the race last year and has in the meantime also taken the Welsh equivalent, and he looks certain to start favourite. We are however not totally convinced. He has a huge weight and must concede at last 13 lbs all round, meeting many of those who finished behind him on far worse terms today. He is in fact 16 lbs higher than when winning in 2010.
Companero (Howard Johnson/ Peter Buchanan) finished well clear when winning the Eider Chase last time at Newcastle, form which would normally give him a chance here, however he finished so exhausted in the dreadful going that we are not sure he can have recovered from those exertions in only 3 weeks.
Our three against the field are Tricky Trickster (Paul Nicholls/ Ruby Walsh), an Aintree possible, Le Beau Bal (Richard Lee/Jake Greenall) and Halcon Genelardais (Alan King/ Robert Thornton), also a past winner of the Welsh National (in 2006!), who has been given a real chance by the handicapper. Le Beau Bal incidentally is by the late French N.H. sire Cadoudal, sire also of Big Bucks and Long Run, the winners of the 2 big staying events at Cheltenham this week, so stamina should be no problem in his case.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Beau Lake - Speed Dating - Lesanda
2. Race: Naughty Naughty - Golden Chieftain - Reindeer Dippin
3. Race: Synchronised - Alfie Sherrin - Tricky Trickster
4. Race: Cottage Acre - Stoney`S Treasure - Honourable Arthur
5. Race: Rossbrin - Royal Chatelier - Well Refreshed
6. Race: Howard`S Legacy - Ambion Wood - What A Warrior
7. Race: Valley View - Nomadic Warrior - Mrs Fawlty
8. Race: Grand Vision - Eastlake - Denali Highway