It is always difficult to rise to the Midlands National challenge on the day after the Grand Annual has been run and you know you have to wait 360 days until the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle gets under way, but today’s renewal wouldn’t have looked out of place if they had run it as the last race on Wednesday. (Well, they are kicking around the idea of a 28th race.)
It is easy to understand why Chac Du Cadran is favourite. The Passing Sale gelding ran well to split Shaking Hands and Miko De Beauchene in a typically gruelling three-mile chase run on heavy ground at Towcester in December on his penultimate run, and that form received a nice boost when the winner followed up off a 3lb higher mark at Ffos Las three weeks later.
Chac Du Cadran stepped up on that himself when he made all to win a three-mile-six-furlong chase at Catterick in January, staying on well all the way to the line and obviously appreciating the step up to a marathon trip. That was a good race for Carlisle, their feature staying chase, and runner-up, the 13-year-old Desperate Dex, didn’t let the form down when he ran a close second to Master Overseer at Wincanton next time off a 4lb higher mark.
There is not a lot to dislike about Chac Du Cadran, he has had a nice break since then, which he probably needed, he is only seven and he is progressive. However, the handicapper has raised him 11lb for that win, which is harsh enough. As well as that, he is short at 4.6. This is a much more competitive race than the Carlisle race, and it is deeper than suggested by odds of 4.6 about Chris Bealby’s horse.
On a line through Desperate Dex, there is very little between Chac Du Cadran and Master Overseer, yet David Pipe’s horse is available at two and a half times the favourite’s price. Master Overseer has a chance as well if he puts his best foot forward, but sometimes he gets it hard to find his best foot, as evidenced by his last six form figures P1P1P1. He’s like the little girl who had a little curl right in the middle of her forehead. Also, it is difficult to win a Midlands National off a high weight – Synchronised is the only in the last 10 years to carry more than 10st 9lb, and he was so good he won a Gold Cup.
Fill The Power is interesting stepped up to a marathon trip for the first time, and he is a decent price.
However, Cool Operator is even more interesting, and he looks over-priced at 9.6. Philip Kirby’s horse is 10 years old, but he has looked progressive in both of runs this season. On his penultimate run, over two and a half miles at this track in November, he beat Rigadin De Beauchene, and that horse went on to chase home the talented Well Refreshed at Lingfield and then to win the Classic Chase at Warwick and to finish second in Haydock’s Grand National Trial. That is rock solid form.
An 8lb hike for that didn’t stop Cool Operator following up at Carlisle the following month, when he stayed on well to beat Do It For Dalkey. He has been raised another 8lb for that, but that only brings him up to his hurdles mark of 128, and it still leaves him on 10st 2lb for today’s race, which is perfect, in the handicap proper.
That Carlisle run was a strong performance, he won with plenty in hand, picking up nicely from the third last to come clear and to win eased down. Also, the runner-up added ballast to the form by running out of his skin to finish second in a much better race at Doncaster next time, and then by winning a decent race at Ayr last Saturday.
The Midlands National is usually won by a relatively young horse (the last nine winners have been aged seven, eight or nine), but Cool Operator is only 10, he is progressive this season, he has won at the track – which is a significant factor on Uttoxeter’s unique terrain – and he stayed three and a quarter miles well last time. The step up to four and a quarter miles is a little bit of an unknown, but it is an unknown for most of his rivals as well, and he stayed on well enough at the end of three and a quarter miles on heavy ground at Carlisle last time to suggest that he has every chance of seeing out the longer trip. He goes well fresh and he should run a big race.
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