As expected, Willie Mullins was in typically dominant form at the Cheltenham Festival this week and his talented but distinctly quirky chaser, Mr Incredible, sets an intriguing puzzle for punters in Saturday’s Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter.
Mr Incredible was last seen in public unseating his rider, Brian Hayes, nearly a dozen strides after jumping the Canal Turn for the second time in last year’s Grand National. It was an odd way to depart, but then Mr Incredible is that kind of horse. He refused to race when fitted with cheekpieces before a Grade One chase at Leopardstown in 2021, and then effectively pulled himself up mid-race on his final start for Henry de Bromhead a few months later.
A subsequent switch to Mullins has yet to see Mr Incredible return to the winner’s enclosure in four attempts, but he ran a huge race to finish second in last season’s Classic Chase at Warwick and set off at just 14-1 at Aintree as a result.
Saturday’s race is presumably a prep for a return to the National next month, but Mullins will need to have him close to his peak with Aintree looming and Mr Incredible (3.00) is still almost completely unexposed at marathon trips.
Kempton 1.35: Issar D’Airy has yet to put a foot wrong over fences and should compete his hat-trick.
Uttoxeter 1.50: A bad mistake at the last stopped Jagwar in his tracks on his handicap debut at Haydock in December and he has an obvious chance off the same mark.
Kempton 2.10: Boombawn is returning from almost 1o months off but his stable could hardly be in better form and he posted a strong time when successful at Aintree in May.
Uttoxeter 2.25: Venetia Williams’s Tanganyika was back to his best when successful by 25 lengths at Newbury earlier this month and is overpriced for a follow-up.
Kempton 2.45: Paul Nicholls is in a fight to defend his trainers’ title after Dan Skelton’s run of success at Cheltenham and he can land a useful blow against his former assistant with Outlaw Peter.
Uttoxeter 3.35: Val Dancer found more when he needed it at Catterick last month and can complete a four-timer off just a 2lb higher mark.
