Midlands Grand National big-race verdict: Matt Newman with a confident pick 🙌

Chase The Spud After The Betfred Midlands National

The Midlands Grand National is the feature race on ITV Racing on what will be a fantastic day’s racing at Uttoxeter on Saturday. Matt Newman and Adrian Wall give their opinion for the race below.

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‘He has been trained with a repeat in mind’

Winner of this race last year, he has given the impression so far this season that he has been trained with a repeat in mind, able to run from just four pounds higher. He tanked into the Grand National trial at Haydock last time out, looking all over the winner as they turned for home but the lack of a recent run and bottomless conditions saw him fade. It won’t be anything like as soft here and that suggests that he is still on a winnable mark. Connections fit him with cheekpieces here and if they produce anything extra from him, he can claim a second Midlands National. – Matt Newman

‘He produced a career best when landing a gamble in the Durham National’

The Irish won this race four times between 2000 and 2006 and although they have had just one winner in the race since, that could be about to change. They have a strong hand here and their best chance in my opinion is Shark Hanlon’s Hewick. He has never run over four miles plus but he produced a career best when landing a gamble in the Durham National at Sedgefield when last seen in October. That was his first venture to an extreme distance so one would think that he can improve yet again for another step up in distance. Jordan Gainford takes off a valuable 3lb and he is a likeable type.

If you back any of our selections you can watch them live on the free Racing Post app or racingpost.com. Simply log in to one of your bookmaker accounts and click ‘Watch live’ on the racecards.

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