SECRET REPRIEVE can grab victory in the Boulton Group Midlands Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) at Uttoxeter on Saturday afternoon.
After the highs of the Cheltenham Festival, Uttoxeter keeps the National Hunt show on the road to bring in ‘Grand National season’.
Over the next month or so we get the start of the Flat season at Doncaster but there are four Grand Nationals – the big one, the Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse is just four weeks away while the Irish version at Fairyhouse is on Easter Monday (April 10) and the Scotland’s big jumps race at Ayr is on Saturday, April 22.
First though Welsh trainer Evan Williams’ Secret Reprieve can win another Grand National at Uttoxeter.
Back in 2020, the now nine-year-old was a rising chase star winning back-to-back races in the Coral Welsh Grand National Trial and then in the real thing at Chepstow over Christmas.
READ MORE: Full 73 current entries for the 2023 Randox Grand National at Aintree
He was being spoken of as an Aintree contender by his Everton FC-supporting trainer. But things didn’t go to plan. He missed the cut for Aintree and didn’t run again until the 2021 Welsh National. But he was well below his previous best and finished fifth, 44 lengths adrift of winner Iwilldoit.
Secret Reprieve – who is owned by the Ruckers – has not won since but he still remains lightly-raced and has had just five runs in around 18 months. His two most recent efforts suggest he still retains his ability and could be about to strike again. He was a good runner-up to Farinet in the Grand National Trial at Chepstow in early December. Then he stayed on well to be third behind Rapper at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
He is yet to tackle this marathon trip of 4m2f, but has always looked like it would be ideal for him. He still has the scope to improve for it and is a good jumper. Soft ground won’t be a worry and Secret Reprieve may finally land another big staying pot. The aforementioned Iwilldoit, from the Sam Thomas stable; Ben Clarke’s The Galloping Bear; and this season’s Welsh National winner The Two Amigos are all dour stayers who could also be involved in the finish.
Olly Murphy’s MACKELDUFF can win the Trinity Create Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (3.35pm).
The seven-year-old scored at his second attempt over fences, when landing a handicap at Wetherby when stepped up to three miles for the first time. He looks capable of adding to that victory.
EQUUS DANCER can bounce back to form back over the smaller obstacles in the Your Dream Holiday With Optimum Experience Handicap Hurdle (1.50pm).
Peter Bowen’s nine-year-old has mixed chasing and hurdling with some success over the past few years. He won over fences on his penultimate start at Hereford, but disappointed next time at Sandown. But he won his last two starts over the smaller obstacles and can do so again here.
Merseyside-born trainer Donald McCain has a number of chances of victory at Uttoxeter with SILVER FLYER in the Perfect Payroll Provider Optimum Pay Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.25pm) one of them.
The seven-year-old has generally run well over hurdles, winning two and being placed in a number of others. He won at Doncaster in December and despite disappointing back on Town Moor last month, he may be able to bounce back to winning ways.
McCain stable-mate BLUE FIN landed a first win over hurdles on his third start at Newcastle last month and he can back that up with another success in the opener, the Enjoy Food – The White Lion Weston ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (1.15pm).
Others who can win at Uttoxeter are the Mel Rowley-trained KEY COMMANDER in the Award-Winning White Lion Weston Restaurant Handicap Chase (4.10pm); another McCain runner ESME SHELBY in the Young Trotters Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (4.45pm); and Alan King’s HELNWEIN in the Elite Each-Way Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race) (5.15pm).
READ MORE: Grand National 2023: dates, tickets and how to watch on TV
At Kempton SOUTHERN SAM can win the Virgin Bet Handicap Chase (3.50pm).
Richard Bandey’s nine-year-old has to carry top weight and is yet to win over fences in four runs. But he has run well in all those and judged on his second on his seasonal return at Wetherby in November, he is about to break his duck over the bigger obstacles.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has a couple of good chances of winners Kempton with OUTLAW PETER one of them in the Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.40pm).
The seven-year-old is a course and distance winner and also scored on his last start at Wincanton earlier this month. He looks in really good form and can go in again.
Ditcheat stable-mate CAP DU MATHAN can also strike again in the opener, the Virgin Bet Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (1.30pm).
Dan Skelton could have a good afternoon at Kempton with three possible winners in the shape of BEAKSTOWN, VICKI VALE and THE KING OF RYHOPE – who was third at Haydock Park last time – in the Virgin Bet Fives Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (2.40pm), the Virgin Bet Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hurdle Qualifier) (GBB Race) (1.30pm) and the Virgin Bet Fives Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (4.25pm) respectively.
Wright Ones
UTTOXETER
1.15pm Blue Fin
1.50pm Equus Dancer
2.25pm Silver Flyer
3pm Secret Reprieve (NAP)
3.35pm Mackelduff
4.10pm Key Commander
4.45pm Esme Shelby
5.15pm Helnwein
KEMPTON
1.30pm Cap Du Mathan
2.05pm Outlaw Peter
2.40pm Beakstown
3.17pm Vicki Vale
3.50pm Southern Sam
4.25pm The King Of Ryhope
5pm Jackpot D’athou
NEWCASTLE
1.40pm Dare To Shout
2.15pm Gold Emery
2.50pm Thereisnodoubt
3.25pm Bavington Bob
4pm To The Limit
4.35pm Gavroche D’allier
5.07pm March Wind
FONTWELL
1.25pm Aggagio
2pm Kansas Du Berlais
2.35pm Echo Watt
3.12pm Monjules
3.45pm Mount South
4.20pm Rose Of Arcadia
4.55pm Spike Jones
WOLVERHAMPTON
5.30pm Strike Alliance
6pm Twistaline
6.30pm Grenham Bay
7pm Zealot
7.30pm Lexington Knight
8pm Plastic Paddy
8.30pm Plumette
SUNDAY'S NAP: Bobmahley (Chepstow 2.05pm)
