Uttoxeter Saturday

THE Midlands National went the way of the Paul Nicholls-trained Truckers Lodge under Lorcan Williams, the pair having finished second to Potters Corner in the Welsh equivalent in December.

The eight-year-old looking fresh and well as he turned what is often a gruelling contest into a procession. He jumped well and came away in the straight to win by a facile 18 lengths from Captain Drake (Harry Fry/Bryan Carver) and the veteran Joe Farrell (Rebecca Curtis/Bryony Frost) at odds of 6/1.

The runner-up would have been much closer but for a blunder at the last, but the others were soundly beaten, and only seven finished in the heavy ground. The winner has youth on his side, but the handicapper has taken no chances by raising him 14lb for this win, and he won’t be easy to place from here.

Also on the card, the remarkable Main Fact (David Pipe/Fergus Gillard) won the Burton Union Handicap Hurdle to bring up a five-timer in handicaps.

The gelding is by Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Blame out of a Sadler’s Wells mare, and he had his last outing on the flat (for Dianne Sayer) off a mark of 60.

It seems very likely that Pipe will look to make hay on the level as soon as racing resumes, and it’s hard to say how far he might progress given his recent run.