A host of the country’s top staying handicap chasers including Welsh Grand National victor Val Dancer and Saturday’s wide-margin Eider Chase hero Knockanore have been entered for the Jennings Bet Midlands National run over 4m2f on Saturday 15th March and worth £160,000.
Mr Vango has always appealed as a type who could relish in this sphere and he was a comfortable winner of the Peter Marsh Chase last month. He is unbeaten in two starts this season and has only been raised 3lb higher for his latest win.
Venetia Williams’ Quick Wave has not been seen since winning the Grand National Trial at Haydock two years ago, but has been given a speculative entry by connections. She may be a 12-year-old mare now but possesses a fine recent strike-rate.
Another talented mare who takes the eye among those entered is the consistent Apple Away who has found just one too good on each of her previous three starts. She finished 9½ lengths in front of the aforementioned Val Dancer when the pair met in the Grand National Trial at Haydock earlier this month.
The race was won last year by the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard whose sole runner this year could be Undersupervision. No trainer has landed back-to-back renewals of this contest since David Pipe landed four consecutive runnings between 2011 and 2014.
It has been over 10 years since Ireland last won the Jennings Bet Midlands Grand National. They could be well represented in the race next month with the likes of Gordon Elliott and John McConnell both making entries from their respective stables.
