James Mackie | @jamesmackieee

Uttoxeter - March 18 2023
Uttoxeter 15:00
12
Adam Wedge

Secret Reprieve

J: Adam Wedge
T: Evan Williams
N/A
Age: 9
Weight: 10-5
OR: 132
Days: 76

The first horse we are giving a chance to in the 2023 Midlands Grand National is ex Welsh Grand National winner Secret Reprieve, who is now back on the same mark as his win in that event and getting some more juice in the ground should play to his strengths.

Having won the rescheduled Welsh Grand National in January 2021 off a mark of 134, he was then not seen again until next years renewal when finishing a good fifth of 20 off 6lb higher.

Seen once more last season he was pulled up Haydock in the Grand National Trial in a race where only three horses managed to finish the race.

Back for another season and although nine years of age the gelding is very lightly raced for his age, he ran no race at Carlisle on seasonal debut when obviously needing the run but next time out got back to form in a big way when second to Farinet at Chepstow in the Welsh Grand National Trial, giving the winner 4lb.

Sent to Cheltenham on New Year's Day he ran a cracker to finish third behind Rapper for Henry Daly and with this being the plan since and getting his ideal ground he can hit the frame at a double figure price.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
18/03/23UTT34Sft10-5PU
01/01/23CHL26.5Sft11-33
03/12/22CHP23.5GS10-42
30/10/22CRL26Sft12-29
19/02/22HAY28.5Hy10-5PU
Uttoxeter - March 18 2023
Uttoxeter 15:00
13
Kevin Brogan

Time To Get Up

J: Kevin Brogan
T: Jonjo O'Neill
N/A
Age: 10
Weight: 10-3
OR: 130
Days: 28

At a bigger price of 16/1 2021 winner of this race Time To Get Up for Jonjo O'Neill has now dropped to a very attractive mark and knowing how to win this race is a big strength.

Winning this event off 138 two years ago he has struggled on the whole since being too high in the handicap, but at the start of 2022 he did put up two good efforts off marks of 144 and 142.

Finishing second at Haydock in the Grand National Trial behind Bristol De Mai (he was actually third but the winner has since been disqualified), he then went back into this race and finished a good third behind runaway winner Screaming Colours.

Finishing 13th, pulled up, pulled up and eighth when last seen at Haydock in the Grand National Trial his mark is now down to 130 which sees him 8lb lower than when winning this event in 2021.

He is well handicapped on his old form and with conditions to suit on Saturday he is a live each way player.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
18/03/23UTT34Sft10-3PU
18/02/23HAY28.5GS10-78
27/12/22CHP30.5Sft11-3PU
03/12/22CHP23.5GS10-8PU
18/04/22FAI29Y10-713