Horse Power: Guetapan Collonges can win the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter

Following the highs of the Cheltenham FestivalGUETAPAN COLLLONGES can land Saturday’s feature race, the bet365 Midlands Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (3pm) at Uttoxeter.

Charlie Longsdon’s eight-year-old can get ‘Grand National’ season off with a well-deserved victory in the Uttoxeter feature after a number of near misses. Following the Midlands version, there is the Irish Grand National on Easter Monday, the Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse in four weeks and then the Scottish equivalent up at Ayr the week after the big one. Owner JP McManus, who has won the Aintree contest twice with Don’t Push It (2010) and Minella Times (2021) and took the Irish version with I Am Maximus last season – with the Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old one of the favourites to double up in the world’s greatest steeplechase. And after more winners at the Cheltenham Festival this week he can see his famous green and gold colours carried to glory for a third time in the Midlands National by Guetapan Collonges. Subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Synchronised (2010) and Time To Get Up (2021) were the leading owner’s previous scorers.

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Guetapan Collonges has been hugely consistent in these sort of races over the past few seasons. He finished fourth in the Classic Chase at Warwick last January, won a three-mile chase at Uttoxeter and was then also fourth behind Major Dundee in this race last year. A good third in a 3m3½f Handicap Chase behind Malina Girl at Cheltenham in November was followed by another fine run in the Classic Chase in January – he finished third behind the reopposing My Silver Lining from the Emma Lavelle stable. He clearly enjoys