A selection of the UK’s top staying handicap chasers, including the likes of Haydock’s Grand National Trial winner Grand Geste and the prolific Aworkinprogress, feature among 36 entries received for the Jennings Bet Midlands Grand National.
The 4m2f contest offers a £160,000 prize fund and has been won by subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup winners in the past, such as The Thinker (1986) and Synchronised (2010). David Pipe still holds the record as the most successful trainer in the history of the race with four winners to his name.
Grand Geste relished the step up to 3m4f when landing another famous Haydock Park handicap in the Grand National Trial earlier this month. That win followed his victory in the Tommy Whittle in December, and he has flown the flag tremendously well for Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith this season.
The consistent Deafening Silence finished behind Grand Geste at Haydock last time, and was also placed in both the Coral Welsh Grand National and BetMGM Rehearsal Chase on his two starts prior to that.
The J P McManus-owned Aworkinprogress was installed as the ante-post favourite for the Virgin Bet Eider Chase at Newcastle last week, but was never declared and it looks as though this is the connections’ preferred destination.
McManus’s famous green and gold silks could also be adorned by his emphatic Kelso scorer Wal Buck’s or Montregard, who has never gone beyond 3m but posted a career-best to win the Swinley Chase at Ascot recently.
William Durkan’s Screaming Colours (2022) is the sole Irish winner of this race in the last 10 years, but that record could improve this year with Irish trainers responsible for six of the 36 entries.
Perhaps the most interesting potential Irish runner is J’Arrive de L’Est, whose trainer Emmet Mullins is greatly feared when sending runners across to contest British handicaps.
Transmission got the better of Rock My Way by 12-lengths at Musselburgh at the start of the month. The pair could renew their rivalry at Uttoxeter next month and would add further depth to what is shaping up to be a deep renewal of the Jennings Bet Midlands Grand National.
Full list of entries for the JenningsBet Midlands Grand National:
Velvet Elvis (IRE) King of Answers (IRE)
One Big Bang (IRE)
Brave Fortune (IRE)
Rock My Way (IRE)
Transmission (IRE)
Minella Crooner (IRE)
Art Decco (GB)
Grand Geste (IRE)
Tanganyika (FR)
Deafening Silence (IRE)
Collectors Item (IRE)
Montregard (FR)
Maximilian (GER)
Isaac des Obeaux (FR)
Aworkinprogress (IRE)
Git Maker (FR)
Hung Jury (IRE)
Jupiter Allen (FR)
Dom of Mary (FR)
Walking On Air (IRE)
Alcedo (IRE)
J'Arrive de L'Est (FR)
Holokea (IRE)
Grand Albert (IRE)
Neo King (FR)
Chasingouttheblues (IRE)
Minella Blueway (IRE)
Magna Sam (GB)
De Legislator (IRE)
Bodhisattva (IRE)
Sporting Ace (IRE)
Wal Buck's (FR)
Catch Catchfire (GB)
Built By Ballymore (IRE)
My Immortal (IRE)
For further information please contact: Sam Cone, Arena Racing Company on 07920 404296 or SCone@arenaracingcompany.co.uk Hugo Barran, JSC Communications on 07786 913215 or hugo@jsccomms.co.uk
