Uttoxeter Saturday

ON ground much softer than advertised, making the race a thorough test, the likeable Mr Vango (Sara Bradstock/Jack Tudor) defied top weight of 12st to win the JenningsBet Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter on Saturday.

Winner of the London National over three and a half miles at Sandown in December and the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock the following month, Mr Vango has enjoyed an excellent season granted a test of stamina and impressed as usual with his jumping as he made the running until headed by the free-going Saint Davy at the seventh fence.

He regained the lead when Saint Davy weakened on the final circuit and although chased throughout the final mile by Tanganyika (Venetia Williams/Charlie Deutsch), held on by a length with the pair 14 lengths clear of Passing Well (Jamies Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) in third.

The 11/1 shot was helped by heavy watering of the ground, which was criticised in many quarters, but provided Mr Vango with the test of stamina he needs, and Sara Bradstock for one was not complaining. Bradstock told ITV Racing: “We ran him with slight trepidation on this slightly faster ground, but he just keeps doing it. He’s the biggest thoroughbred I’ve ever seen and he’s probably only coming to full strength now. That will be that for this season, but we’re dreaming of Grand Nationals.”

Rest of the card

Red Risk (Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden) ended a lengthy losing run in the JenningsBet Handicap Hurdle over an extended two miles and seven furlongs, with the 10-year-old scoring at odds of 22/1 from the heavily backed Joyeux Machin (Dan/Harry Skelton), with the pair separated by a neck at the finish.

Skelton had earlier tasted victory in the opening handicap hurdle with new recruit Hidden Heroics, who landed something of a gamble having been backed into 11/4 favouritism on his first start since leaving the stable of Chris Gordon.

He beat market rival Wellington Arch (Jonjo O’Neill/Jonjo Jr) by three and a quarter lengths.

Minella Blueway (Evan Williams /Adam Wedge) took the novices’ handicap chase on the card at odds of 13/2, beating Hughie Morrison’s Eyed (Jonathan Burke) by half a length.

THERE was also televised action at Kempton last Saturday, with the most thrilling finish coming when Brendan Powell persuaded the reluctant Teddy Blue (Harry Derham) to put his best foot forward in the Virgin Bet Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.

The son of Sea The Moon isn’t a chaser in demeanour and traded much bigger than his SP of 7/2 on the first circuit when he threatened to lose touch.

Powell was patient, however, and as the leaders tired, he cajoled an effort out of his mount to pass the others in the home straight. He had just taken the lead approaching the final fence when nearest rival Moveit Like Minnie swerved towards the wing and unseated Tom Bellamy, leaving First Street (Nicky Henderson/Nico de Boinville) to chase the winner home.

Shaken, not stirred

Henderson and de Boinville, who had mixed fortunes at Cheltenham, were back in the winners’ enclosure after the Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle courtesy of Aston Martini, with the 10/3 joint-favourite getting the better of chief market rival Classic King (Emma Lavelle/Ben Jones) by a length. The winner was wearing cheekpieces for the first time, incidentally.

Headgear has also proven a great benefit to the previously frustrating Bad (Ben Pauling/Ben Jones) who has now won back-to-back chases after his victory in the Virgin Bet Handicap Chase, and he displayed a battling attitude to regain the lead after the last when tackled by Flegmatik (Dan/Harry Skelton), prevailing by half a length to give his rider a double on the card.

Around

The Tracks

THE Patrick Mullins tour of Britain continued this week when he scored aboard Jarrive De Mee for father Willie at Haydock on Wednesday. The 1/2 favourite looked in a different league to his three rivals and may be capable of winning at a higher level.

Sean Davis gets a worthy mention as he partnered and trained 13/8 favourite Venetian to win a Wolverhampton handicap on Friday evening just two hours after Porsche Lad had given him a winner at Dundalk.