Midlands Grand National
Premier Handicap race
LocationUttoxeter Racecourse,
Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, England
Inaugurated1969
Race typeSteeplechase
SponsorMarston's Brewery
Websiteuttoxeter-racecourse.co.uk
Race information
Distance4m 2f 8y (6,847 metres)
SurfaceTurf
QualificationFive-years-old and up
WeightHandicap
Maximum: 12 st
Purse£150,000 (2023)
1st: £84,405
Midlands Grand National
2023
Emerald green and yellow (quartered), white sleeves and cap Red, white seams, purple sleeves, white seams, red and white quartered cap Pink and purple check, pink sleeves, black cap
Major Dundee Tile Tapper Notachance
Previous years
2022
Royal blue, white hooped sleeves, red cap, emerald green stars Red, yellow cross of lorraine and sleeves, dark green cap Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap
Screaming Colours Young Dev Time To Get Up
2021
Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Royal blue, orange star, royal blue sleeves, white stars, royal blue cap, white star Dark blue, light blue spots and armlets
Time To Get Up Mighty Thunder Final Nudge
2020-2011
2020
Emerald green, royal blue spots, halved sleeves, emerald green cap Royal blue, white epaulets, white and royal blue halved sleeves, royal blue cap, white star Maroon and white diabolo, white sleeves, quartered cap
Truckers Lodge Captain Drake Joe Farrell
2019
Red, white epaulets, dark blue and white hooped sleeves, yellow and dark blue quartered cap Emerald green, orange stars, emerald green cap, orange star Royal blue, white triple diamond, striped sleeves
Potters Corner Ms Parfois Get On The Yager
2018
Brown, orange epaulets and star on cap Yellow, black cross of lorraine, dark green sleeves, yellow cap, black star Maroon and light blue diabolo, light blue sleeves, quartered cap
Regal Flow Milansbar Ballymalin
2017
Royal blue, pink hoop, dark blue cap Black and orange (quartered), checked sleeves, orange and black quartered cap Purple and pink diamonds, pink sleeves, purple armlets, purple cap
Chase The Spud Mysteree Warrantor
2016
Black, white hoop, black sleeves, white stars Yellow, black cross of lorraine, dark green sleeves, yellow cap, black star Red, black diamond, red sleeves, yellow diamonds, black cap, red diamonds
Firebird Flyer Milansbar Cogry
2015
Emerald green, yellow chevron and sleeves, red cap Royal blue, white cross of lorraine, royal blue cap, white star Purple, emerald green hoop, checked sleeves, white cap
Goonyella Raz De Maree Woodford County
2014
Light blue, pink chevrons, light blue sleeves, light blue cap, pink star Dark blue, orange diamond, quartered cap Red, white sleeves, red spots, brown cap
Goulanes Alpha Victor West End Rocker
2013
Dark blue, white chevron, chevrons on sleeves, striped cap Dark blue and maroon stripes, hooped sleeves Yellow, dark blue star, yellow sleeves, white armlets, yellow cap, dark blue star
Big Occasion Rebeccas Choice One in a Milan
2012
Red and purple (quartered), yellow sleeves, red cap Yellow, large black spots and armlets, black and yellow quartered cap Maroon and light blue diabolo, light blue sleeves, quartered cap
Master Overseer Major Malarkey Ballyfitz
2011
Red, white chevron, chevrons on sleeves, red cap, white diamond Maroon and light blue diabolo, light blue sleeves, quartered cap Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap
Minella Four Star Ballyfitz Synchronised
2010-2001
2010
Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Red and yellow diamonds, white cap Yellow, dark green stripe and armlets, dark green and yellow quartered cap
Synchronised L'aventure Giles Cross
2009
Mauve and white check, white sleeves, mauve armlets Dark blue, pink and dark blue hooped sleeves, pink cap Yellow, red epaulettes, black sleeves, black cap, yellow spots
Russian Trigger Flintoff Hold The Pin
2008
Orange, black triple diamond, black and orange diabolo on sleeves, orange cap, black diamond Dark blue, emerald green hoop, quartered cap Mauve, Mauve and White check sleeves, White cap
Himalayan Trail Badgerlaw The Dark Lord
2007
Yellow and orange diamonds, yellow sleeves Dark blue, maroon star, maroon cap Emerald green and red quartered, emerald green sleeves, em green cap, red star
Baron Windrush D'Argent Newbay Prop
2006
Blue, yellow diabolo, red sleeves and cap Maroon, White seams, diabolo on sleeves, White cap Red and yellow diamonds, white cap
G V A Ireland Ossmoses L'aventure
2005
Yellow, Orange braces, Yellow and Grey halved sleeves, Yellow cap, Orange stars Dark blue and white check, white sleeves Red, white spots on sleeves and cap
Philson Run Toulouse-Lautrec Howdydoody
2003
Yellow and red checked, yellow sleeves, quartered cap Maroon and yellow diamonds, halved sleeves, yellow cap Royal blue, emerald green sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots
Intelligent Akarus Jurancon II
2002
Purple, mauve chevrons, purple cap Emerald Green, Yellow hoops, Emerald Green cap, White star Yellow, light blue diamonds on body
The Bunny Boiler Mini Sensation Scotton Green
2000-1991
2000
Yellow, light blue disc and armlets, light blue cap Royal blue and white quartered with red sash, royal blue sleeves, red cap Yellow, light blue diamonds on body
Ackzo Flaked Oats Scotton Green
1999
Purple, yellow sash, hooped sleeves, yellow cap Royal blue, red chevrons, white sleeves, blue cap, red hoops Pink and maroon quartered, maroon sleeves, quartered cap
Young Kenny Call It A Day Hollybank Buck
1998
EMERALD GREEN and WHITE HALVED, sleeves reversed, white cap, green spots Yellow and red (quartered), white sleeves, red cap Yellow, red cross sashes, striped sleeves, royal blue cap
Miss Orchestra Kamikaze Another Excuse
1997
Yellow, black epaulets, white sleeves, yellow cap, black star Green and white stripes, black and white striped sleeves Green, yellow chevron, yellow sleeves, green armlets, black and yellow quartered cap
Seven Towers Lord Gyllene Sister Stephanie
1996
Yellow, red cross sashes, striped sleeves, royal blue cap Yellow and white stripes, yellow sleeves, white cap Red and yellow (quartered), red sleeves, yellow spots, red cap, yellow spots
Another Excuse Feathered Gale Moorcroft Boy
1995
Orange, black chevron, black sleeves, orange armlets, light green and orange striped cap Black, red sleeves, quartered cap White, black sash, black cap, white hoop
Lucky Lane Arthur's Minstrel Scribbler
1994
Pink and purple check, pink sleeves, black cap Royal blue and white check, white sleeves and cap Red, white epaulettes, halved sleeves, striped cap
Glenbrook D'Or Its A Cracker Callmecha
1993
Blue, white star, white sleeves, red armlets, blue cap, white star Yellow, white cap, dark blue star Orange, black star, quartered cap
Mister Ed Into The Red Do Be Brief
1992
Emerald Green, Yellow hoops, Emerald Green cap, White star Black and White (halved), sleeves reversed, quartered cap Yellow, royal blue sleeves, yellow cap, royal blue star
Laura's Beau Mr Boston Willsford
1991
Pink, white stars, pink sleeves, purple armlets, pink cap, white star Emerald green and yellow quartered, white sleeves and cap Claret, grey disc and armlets, quartered cap
Bonanza Boy Rubika Four Trix
1990-1988
1990
Yellow, royal blue sleeves, yellow cap, royal blue star Jade green, red sleeves, check cap Beige, Brown hooped sleeves, Orange cap
Willsford Pembrokeshire Lad The Langholm Dyer
1989
Emerald green and royal blue (halved), sleeves reversed, yellow cap owned by Abba Double Glazing Co Ltd Brown, royal blue sash, sleeves and cap
Gallic Prince Abba Lad Mithras
1988
White, black hoop and armlets, red cap, black star Blue and red check, blue sleeves, red cap Light blue, orange diamonds on body, star on cap
Knock Hill Cranlome Team Challenge
 

The Midlands Grand National is a Premier Handicap National Hunt race in Great Britain. It is a handicap steeplechase and is run at Uttoxeter Racecourse in March, over a distance of about 4 miles and 2 furlongs (4 miles, 2 furlongs and 8 yards, or 6,847 metres). During the race there are 25 fences to be jumped. The race held Listed status until 2022 and was re-classified as a Premier Handicap from the 2023 running when Listed status was removed from handicap races.[1]

History

The first race was run on 3 May 1969.[2] The race was initially run over 4m2f and was increased up to 4m4f in 1977. During this period it would have been, assuming accurate measurements, by 24 yards or approximately the length of a cricket pitch, the longest race in the NH calendar. In 1991 the distance was dropped to 4m, before being upped to 4m2f in 1993. The distance of the race was then reduced to 4m1½f in 2004 before being returned back to 4m2f in 2018. It is now the second-longest race in the British calendar, after the Grand National at Aintree.

The 1977 winner Watafella finished third in the race but was promoted to first place after the first and second, No Scotch and Evander were disqualified after it was realised they failed to meet the conditions of the race, along with three other runners.[3]

The race was not covered on television in its early years but was shown by Channel 4 during the 1980s and up until 1998. The BBC took over coverage between 1998 and 2005 before the race returned to Channel 4, who continued to show it until their coverage of British racing ended in 2016. It is now broadcast on ITV Racing.

Records

Most successful horse:

  • no horse has won the race more than once

Leading jockey (2 wins):

  • Ken White – Happy Spring (1969), Rip’s Lyric (1973)
  • Derek Morris – Midnight Madness (1987), Mister Ed (1993)
  • Brendan Powell – Another Excuse (1996), Young Kenny (1999)
  • Norman Williamson – Lucky Lane (1995), The Bunny Boiler (2002)

Leading trainer (4 wins):

  • David Pipe – Minella Four Star (2011), Master Overseer (2012), Big Occasion (2013), Goulanes (2014)
  • Widest winning margin – Another Excuse (1996) – distance
  • Narrowest winning margin – Fighting Chance (1974), Knock Hill (1988) – head
  • Most runners – 22, in 1978, 1979 and 1981
  • Fewest runners – 6, in 2000

Winners

Year
 Winner
 Age
 Weight
 Jockey
 Trainer
1969Happy Spring1309–11Ken WhiteJ Wright
1970Two Springs810-06R EdwardsG Owen
1971Grey Sombrero709-07Graham ThornerDavid Gandolfo
1972Proud Percy910-00G FaulknerArthur Stephenson
1973Rip's Lyric810-06Ken WhiteW Whiston
1974Fighting Chance609-08Bill ShoemarkGay Kindersley
1975Rag Trade910-10John BurkeArthur Pitt
1976Burrator710-01J Decker[lower-alpha 1]A Jarvis
1977Watifella709-11Bryan SmartJenny Pitman
1978Kick On1110-08R HyettK Lewis
1979Jimmy Miff709-10S KembleI Wardle
1980Pacify1010-00Steve JobarStan Mellor
1981 Master Brutus 9 10-02 John Goulding Caroline Mason
1982 Bridge Ash 9 10–13 Keith Johnson J I Johnson
no race 1983[lower-alpha 2]
1984 Mr Mole 9 10-00 A Webb John Webber
1985 Northern Bay 9 11-10 Philip Hobbs Tom Bill
1986 The Thinker 8 11-06 Ridley Lamb Arthur Stephenson
1987 Midnight Madness 9 09-13 Derek Morris Dai Bloomfield
1988 Knock Hill 12 11-07 George Mernagh John Webber
1989 Gallic Prince 10 10-01 Peter Hobbs Philip Hobbs
1990 Willsford 7 11-00 Mark Pitman Jenny Pitman
1991 Bonanza Boy 10 11-10 Peter Scudamore Martin Pipe
1992 Laura's Beau 8 10-08 Conor O'Dwyer Francis Berry
1993 Mister Ed 10 10-03 Derek Morris Roger Curtis
1994 Glenbrook d'Or 10 10-00 Brian Clifford Jim Wilson
1995 Lucky Lane 11 10-00 Norman Williamson Philip Hobbs
1996 Another Excuse 8 10-00 Brendan Powell, snr Eugene O'Sullivan
1997 Seven Towers 8 11-04 Peter Niven Mary Reveley
1998 Miss Orchestra 7 09-09 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington
1999 Young Kenny 8 11-06 Brendan Powell, snr Peter Beaumont
2000 Ackzo 7 10-00 Adrian Maguire Ferdy Murphy
no race 2001[lower-alpha 3]
2002 The Bunny Boiler 8 10-00 Norman Williamson Noel Meade
2003 Intelligent 7 10-10 Robbie Power Jessica Harrington
no race 2004[lower-alpha 4]
2005 Philson Run 9 10-02 Paul Carberry Nick Williams
2006 G V A Ireland 8 10-03 Ruby Walsh Francis Flood
2007 Baron Windrush 9 10-09 Jason Maguire Nigel Twiston-Davies
2008 Himalayan Trail 9 10–00 Tjade Collier Sue Smith
2009 Russian Trigger 7 10–12 Jack Doyle Victor Dartnall
2010 Synchronised 7 11-05 Tony McCoy Jonjo O'Neill
2011 Minella Four Star 8 10-00 Conor O'Farrell David Pipe
2012 Master Overseer 9 10-03 Tom Scudamore David Pipe
2013 Big Occasion 6 09-07 Mikey Ennis[lower-alpha 1] David Pipe
2014 Goulanes 8 10-03 Richard Johnson David Pipe
2015 Goonyella 8 10–12 Jonnny Burke Jim Dreaper
2016 Firebird Flyer 9 11-05 Adam Wedge Evan Williams
2017 Chase The Spud 9 10–12 Paddy Brennan Fergal O'Brien
2018 Regal Flow 11 10-12 Sean Houlihan Bob Buckler
2019 Potters Corner 9 10-07 James Bowen Christian Williams
2020 Truckers Lodge 8 10-07 Lorcan Williams Paul Nicholls
2021 Time To Get Up 8 10-10 Jonjo O'Neill Jnr Jonjo O'Neill
2022 Screaming Colours 11 10-06 Conor Orr William Durkan
2023 Major Dundee 8 10-02 Rex Dingle Alan King
  1. 1 2 amateur jockey
  2. ↑ The 1983 running was cancelled due to a waterlogged track
  3. ↑ The 2001 running was cancelled due to a foot-and-mouth crisis
  4. ↑ The 2004 running was cancelled due to high winds

See also

  • Race Recordings 1991–2007

References

  1. ↑ "Jump Pattern Committee update 22/23 season". British Horseracing Authority. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  2. ↑ "Stoke & Staffordshire – Radio Stoke – The Midlands Grand National". BBC. 16 March 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  3. ↑ "Big Race History: Midlands National". Betting.betfair.com. 13 March 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
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