Staged at Uttoxeter racecourse the Midlands Grand National is run over 4m1f. First run back in 1969 the gruelling contest has been won by the David Pipe stable in four of the last 10 seasons, while since 1996 we've only seen one winner aged on double-figures.
Here at TQ we look back at recent winners and is on hand with all the key stats ahead of the 2021 renewal, this year staged on March 20th 2021
Recent Midlands Grand National Winners
2020 – TRUCKERS LODGE (6/1)
2019 - POTTERS CROSS (20/1)
2018 - REGAL FLOW (16/1)
2017 – CHASE THE SPUD (11/1)
2016 – FIREBIRD FLYER (16/1)
2015 – GOONYELLA (6/1)
2014 – GOULANES (13/2 fav)
2013 – BIG OCCASION (6/1)
2012 – MASTER OVERSEER (11/1)
2011 – MINELLA FOUR STAR (25/1)
2010 – SYCHRONISED (15/2)
2009 – RUSSIAN TRIGGER (8/1)
2008 – HIMALAYAN TRAIL (16/1)
2007 – BARON WINDRUSH (12/1)
2006 – G V A IRELAND (5/1 fav)
2005 – PHILSON RUN (14/1)
2004 – no race
2003 - INTELLIGENT (6/1)
Midlands Grand National Betting Trends
16/17 – Aged 9 or younger
15/17 – Had won between 1-4 times over fences before
15/17 – Carried 10-12 or less
15/17 – Had won over at least 3m (fences) before
13/17 – Had raced within the last 8 weeks
13/17 – Won by an Irish bred horse
13/17 – Had never run at Uttoxeter before
13/17 – Unplaced favourites
11/17 – Officially rated 135 or less
11/17 – Carried 10-9 or less
11/17 – Finished in the top 3 last time out
9/17 – Returned a double-figure-price in the betting
9/17 – Aged 7 or 8 years-old
9/17 – Came from the top 3 in the betting
5/17 – Won last time out
4/17 – Trained by David Pipe
3/17 – Won by an Irish-trained horse
2/17 – Winning favourites
8 of the last 10 winners aged 8 or 9
The average winning SP in the last 17 runnings is 11/1
TQ VERDICT: Last year’s winner – Truckers Lodge – is back for more for the Paul Nicholls yard and certainly can’t be ruled out. Yes, he’s up 12lbs since last year, but he won the race by 18 lengths and is still lightly-raced over fences (7 runs). 16 of the last 17 winners were aged 9 or younger, so that’s a negative for Screaming Colours, Tommy Rapper, Prime Venture, Doing Fine, Final Nudge, Regal Encore and Acting Lass, who are all aged in double-figures. 15 of the last 17 winners also carried 10-12 or less in weight, so that would be a plus for horses between 10 and 22 (inc), but we can also take this weight trend a bit further weight 11 of the last 17 carrying 10-9 or less – of those aged in single-figures, this age stat is a positive for TRUCKIN AWAY, COO STAR SIVOLA, SPRINGFIELD FOX, CROSSLEY TENDER and SEASTON SPIRIT. However, the 8 year-old TIME TO GET UP only just falls outside this weight trend with 10-10 and having won well at Wincanton last time out is the call. He’s up 8lbs for that win, but ran on strongly that day to suggest the longer trip will bring out more and with only 6 career runs and 3 runs over fences should have more in the locker for the Jonjo O’Neill yard. Of the rest, the already mentioned CROSSLEY TENDER (e/w) and COO STAR SIVOLA (e/w) both get in with light weights and are worth small savers too.
