15:00 Uttoxeter

Saturday 18 March 2023

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:15

Boulton Group Midlands Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 9m 5.90s

Iwilldoit⁶³

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Stan Sheppard| T: S Thomas| OR: 155

8/1

Most progressive chaser who was a taking winner of the 2021 Welsh National before defying over a year's absence to land Classic Chase at Warwick in similar style. Up 8 lb but he merits serious consideration once more after just five chase starts.

Form: 273/11-1

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The Galloping Bear^p,t²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Ben Jones| T: Ben Clarke| OR: 145

7/1

Very useful staying chaser who comes here on the back of an excellent second in Eider Chase at Newcastle three weeks ago. Not taken lightly despite a 5 lb rise.

Form: F1D-3F2

Floueur^p,t⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: G Hanmer| OR: 142

66/1

Useful winning hurdler/chaser in Ireland for Gordon Elliott but he offered little for his new yard in cheekpieces when eighth in handicap hurdle here in January. Has lots to prove back chasing.

Form: P-P0188

French Paradoxe^h⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: G Sheehan| T: O Signy| OR: 140

12/1

Improving chaser who easily made it 2-3 this season in 23f handicap at Newcastle 46 days ago. Takes a big step up in trip and sure to be on the premises if his stamina holds out.

Form: 5F1-1F1

Captain Kangaroo^t²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 135

20/1

Useful winning chaser at his best but he failed to complete for fourth start in a row when falling 13th in handicap chase at Punchestown (28.2f) 27 days ago. Not easy to make a case for up in trip.

Form: 21UFPF

Truckers Lodge^b⁴²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-8| J: Bryony Le Clerc| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 135| CD

8/1

Winless since landing this event in 2020 but he has performed with credit when fourth in the Welsh National and fifth in the Edinburgh National on his last two runs. Couldn't rule out with ground conditions to suit.

Form: 336-945

Guetapan Collonges³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 132| C

11/2

Progressive type who resumed winning ways in 3m handicap here last month. Good fourth in Classic Chase at Warwick previously and has more to offer in these marathon events so he needs considering back up in trip.

Form: 11F-141

Notachance^p²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 132

25/1

Without a victory since early 2021 and his run of good form came to an end when only seventh in Grand National Trial at Haydock four weeks ago. Sort to bounce back though.

Form: 823-437

Tile Tapper²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: S Bowen| T: C Honour| OR: 132

11/1

Got off the mark for the season in 3m handicap chase at Carlisle 26 days ago, idling in front. Takes a big step up in trip now but he's no forlorn hope.

Form: 81-2241

The Two Amigos⁸¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-5| J: David Prichard⁽⁵⁾| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 132

9/1

Capitalised on a reduced mark when gaining his first win since 2019 in Welsh National at Chepstow in December. Only eighth in this race in 2021 but he's one to consider despite going back up 5 lb now.

Form: 242-731

Secret Reprieve⁷⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 132

9/1

Won the Welsh Grand National in 2020/21 season. Lightly raced since but recorded a good third in 3m2f handicap chase at Cheltenham in January. Shortlisted off a 2 lb lower mark.

Form: 1/5P-923

Time To Get Up^p,t²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-3| J: K Brogan| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 130| CD

10/1

Won this event in 2021 and posted a good third in last year's renewal. Yet to fire this term but not disgraced given he made an early blunder when eighth in Haydock's Grant National Trial last time. Not entirely dismissed off an easing mark.

Form: 230-PP8

Scipion^p³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Jack Tudor| T: T Lacey| OR: 129

18/1

Cheekpieces fitted and built on earlier chasing promise when landing 4-runner handicap at Lingfield (23.5f) 32 days ago. Has more to offer but this is much tougher and has his stamina to prove too.

Form: 331-341

Major Dundee³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Rex Dingle| T: A King| OR: 128

12/1

Successful on his first two starts in this sphere at Fakenham/Bangor and even better form when third in Scottish Grand National last spring. Only twice raced this season and still looked rusty when third in 3m Kempton handicap last month. Not dismissed back over a marathon trip.

Form: 1123-03

Bushypark⁶⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 127

12/1

Not the easiest to catch right over hurdles but he made it 2-4 returned to fences in 3m6f handicap at Catterick in January, jumping really well. Possibilities despite being 10 lb higher here (including 2 lb out of the handicap).

Form: PP-PP21

Max Dynamo^h,t⁴³

Age: 13| Weight: 10-2| J: Harrison Beswick⁽³⁾| T: Mrs E Bishop| OR: 120

50/1

Veteran chaser who made light of a ten-month absence when easily bagging 3m2f handicap at Chepstow 43 days ago. Tongue strap worn there is retained but this is a very tough ask from 9 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 1113P-1

D'jango^b,t²²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Sean Houlihan| T: D Pipe| OR: 112

100/1

Recorded his third victory of the season at Lingfield (28.8f) last month but well held at Exeter since and faces a very stiff task on these terms.

Form: 7P3414

Non-Runners

Mr Incredible²

Weight: 11-4| Age: 7

T: W P Mullins J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Guetapan Collonges (11/2), The Galloping Bear (7/1), Iwilldoit (8/1), Truckers Lodge (8/1), Mr Incredible (8/1), The Two Amigos (9/1), Secret Reprieve (9/1), Time To Get Up (10/1), Tile Tapper (11/1), Major Dundee (12/1), Bushypark (12/1), French Paradoxe (12/1), Scipion (18/1), Captain Kangaroo (20/1), Notachance (25/1), Max Dynamo (50/1), Floueur (66/1), D'jango (100/1)

IWILLDOIT returned in some style when adding Warwick's Classic Chase to his 2021 Welsh National success and this most progressive sort can defy an 8 lb hike in the weights to make it 5-6 over fences. Guetapan Collonges (second choice) and French Paradoxe both arrive on the up too so could emerge as the chief threats if their stamina holds out, while former winners of this event Truckers Lodge and Time To Get Up could outrun their odds too now they have fallen in the weights.