ITV Racing Tips: No Post-Cheltenham Lull With Focus Turning To Midlands National

There’s very much a feel of “after the Lord Mayor’s” show on the Saturday immediately after the Cheltenham Festival, but it’s competitive racing nevertheless.

Uttoxeter host the staying marathon that is the Midlands Grand National, while there are some decent looking races at Kempton too. The ITV cameras will be showing  live races from both racecourses.

1.50 Uttoxeter – 2m4f Handicap Hurdle

Owned by some friends of mine, and identified as a horse to follow this season, I’M A LUMBERJACK will hopefully have his optimum conditions on Saturday afternoon in the Midlands.

Third in pretty testing conditions, that were actually worse than the official going of soft at Doncaster last time, the seven-year-old is showing us enough this season to make him a player once more in this 2m4f event.

2.00 Kempton – 2m2f Handicap Chase

The Suzi Smith-trained TAPLEY rarely runs a bad race and the grey gelding can be in the mix again in this 2m2f contest.

Marginally beaten here last time over 2m4½f, this slight drop in trip should play into his front-running style of racing.

2.25 Uttoxeter – 3m Handicap Hurdle

146-rated FRENCH SHIP is undoubtedly the class hurdler in this field, and even off top weight he can have a big say in the proceedings.

A winner of two nice handicaps in October and November, a bounce back to form would see him go close in this Class.

2.40 Kempton – 2m5f Handicap Hurdle

At odds of 20/1 in our sports betting, I’m going to take a speculative punt on the Alan King-trained NORTH LODGE.

The nine-year-old was held in high regard when bursting onto the scene as a novice at Aintree in Dec 2021, then ran a good race the following April in the Grade 1 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle.

He’s obviously been beset by problems since, but King and his owners appear to have been very patient with him and he’s too big a price to pass over.

3.00 Uttoxeter – 4m2f Handicap Chase

Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch will certainly be buoyed by their success earlier in the week at The Festival, and it will hopefully rub off on ALECEDO in this ultra staying contest.

Vadamos progeny have done well at Grade 3 level down the years, so the eight-year-old should by rights be able to compete at this kind of distance.

For me, all the signs were there that he needed further when finishing a staying on second to Docpickedme at Doncaster, and I’m happy  to see him taking his chance over this trip today.

3.18 Kempton – 2m4½f Handicap Hurdle

TEDDY BLUE showed us some of his old form in the Greatwood Gold Cup a fortnight ago, and his current odds of 14/1 in our horse racing betting, look rather big.

The six-year-old has won at this track before and on the face of things, there are no real outright stars in this line up. Here’s therefore worth an each-way play to record career win number seven.

3.35 Uttoxeter – 3m Novices’ Handicap Chase

Sporting the famous Hemmings colours, MILCREE has done well thus far in this division, winning two from two.

Ayr and Kelso both take some jumping, and Nicky Richards’ charge can handle the step up in trip.

*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*